Exploring Cutting-Edge Research & Analytical Services at UNR's Core Lab (Sarrah Dunham-Cheatham)

Join David Oliva, General Manager of Organomation, as he interviews Sarrah Dunham-Cheatham, Director of the Core Analytical Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno. In this video, Sarrah shares insights into the wide range of projects supported by the core lab, from THC and CBD testing in hemp to lithium exploration and metabolomics research. Discover the advantages of working in a university core lab, the diverse expertise of the team, and how they serve both academic institutions and private companies. Sarrah also discusses their work on pesticide residue methods, adulteration analysis, and the use of chromatography and spectroscopy techniques.

Video Transcription

Dr. Sarah Boswell, Research Scientist and Director of the Core Analytical Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno, discusses her work supporting diverse research projects through advanced analytical techniques, from agricultural testing and lithium exploration to product purity verification.

The Value of a Core Laboratory

According to Dr. Boswell, one of the greatest advantages of a university core lab is the diversity of expertise within the team. “Everyone comes from different scientific backgrounds, which allows us to leverage the collective knowledge and resources of the entire university,” she explains. The lab operates as part of a larger network of core facilities across western U.S. universities, enabling collaboration and access to specialized instrumentation at partner institutions.

Another benefit is the ability to maintain highly specialized and costly equipment that smaller labs or research groups cannot justify purchasing for occasional use. “We can house and maintain advanced analytical systems that other groups might only need once or twice a year,” says Boswell. “That way, researchers can access state-of-the-art technology without incurring major costs.”

Research Focus and Project Diversity

The Core Analytical Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno, operates under the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA Agricultural Research Service, giving it a strong focus on agricultural applications. The team performs extensive testing of hemp samples for THC and CBD content to ensure compliance with regulatory thresholds.

“We’re helping Nevada position itself as a potential hemp producer for textile fiber,” says Boswell. “For that to happen, the material must meet strict criteria for cannabinoid content.”

The lab also collaborates with mining and energy industries in the western United States. Projects include assessing contaminants in mining waste, analyzing ore extracts, and supporting Nevada’s emerging lithium industry. “We work with lithium battery development companies and academic researchers to provide HPLC, ion chromatography, and spectroscopy analyses,” she adds.

In addition, Boswell’s team assists the university’s nutrition department in metabolomics studies, examining short-chain fatty acids and amino acids in biological samples to understand their role in human health.

Quality Control and Product Verification

Beyond academic research, the lab receives frequent requests to verify product purity and composition. “We’re developing methods for pesticide residue analysis to ensure that harmful chemicals don’t end up on crops consumed by humans,” says Boswell.

She notes that product adulteration is an increasing issue across markets. “There’s often a gap between what’s marketed and what’s actually inside a product,” she explains, referencing collaborations with botanical reference laboratories in California that validate product labels against actual chemical content.

Boswell herself has conducted independent studies on adulteration in pet food, revealing discrepancies between labeled and actual ingredients. “It’s disappointing,” she says, “but this is exactly where university labs can help — by supporting compliance with FDA regulations.”

Serving Academia and Industry

The lab’s mission is to serve as both a training facility and an analytical hub for the University of Nevada system, including campuses in Reno and Las Vegas. However, it also supports external clients. “Our workload is about fifty-fifty between university projects and private companies,” says Boswell. “It fluctuates depending on who needs our help.”

Analytical Capabilities and Techniques

While much of the lab’s work centers on spectroscopy — particularly inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) — chromatography also plays a major role. “Our recent chromatography work has focused on GC-MS,” Boswell notes. “We also operate HPLC and an HPLC-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, depending on project needs.”

Looking Ahead

Boswell concludes with an open invitation: “We’re here to help. If you have analytical needs, reach out — and if we can’t assist directly, we’ll connect you with someone who can.”

This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.

Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast

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