PFAS first steps: A roundtable for new analysts

Demystifying PFAS, from fundamentals to first steps in the lab A webinar series for mass spec scientists and a practical training resource for lab managers building confident food testing teams

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are everywhere, from drinking water to food packaging, and understanding how to detect and analyze them is more critical than ever. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, our new four-part webinar series breaks down the essentials of PFAS analysis with expert-led sessions, practical tools, and real-world insights.

Designed with lab analysts and managers in mind, this series also serves as a structured training resource to onboard new analysts, deliver refresher learning, and build consistent competency across the team.

Webinar: PFAS first steps: A roundtable for new analysts

Join our expert panel as they tackle common challenges faced by new analysts. From troubleshooting poor linearity to ensuring regulatory readiness, this roundtable is packed with practical advice and peer insights.

What you’ll learn:

• Learn how experienced PFAS specialists troubleshoot the issues new analysts often face
• Gain practical, real lab strategies to build confidence in your workflows
• Understand what regulatory readiness looks like for early career analysts

Host: Craig Butt, Senior Technical Manager, Food and Environmental

Craig M. Butt is Senior Manager of the Applied Markets group in the Global Technical Marketing division of SCIEX with over 20 years of mass spectrometry experience. Previously at SCIEX he was an applications scientist where he developed methods for targeted and non-targeted methods in the cannabis, environmental, food and beverage group.  He obtained his Ph.D. in environmental chemistry at the University of Toronto, his thesis research investigated the fate of poly- and perfluorinated organic compounds (PFAS) in biological systems.  He was a NSERC post-doctoral research fellow in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, later becoming a research scientist in the department.

Panelist: Megumi Shimizu, LC-MS Application Scientist, SCIEX

Megumi Shimizu is a Senior Application Scientist on SCIEX’s Environmental Application Team, providing technical guidance, troubleshooting, and customized workflow development for LC‑MS. She holds a PhD in Marine Science from Duke University and has 8 years of experience focused on PFAS analysis and environmental contaminants. Megumi supports customers across nominal and high-resolution platforms, helping them develop sensitive, robust methods for PFAS detection, quantification, and characterization in complex environmental matrices.

Panelist: Maryam Sayeed, Product Manager, Phenomenex

Maryam Sayeed is a Product Manager at Phenomenex and has been with the company for three years. She focuses on expanding solutions for chromatography products and consumables designed for the food and environmental markets. Her work also includes supporting products that address challenges associated with PFAS analysis and background contamination at low detection limits. Prior to joining Phenomenex, Maryam spent nine years in the food and beverage industry, gaining extensive hands‑on experience with HPLC analysis. She holds an MS in Biology with a specialization in Biochemistry.

Panelist: Simon Roberts, Staff Applications Scientist, SCIEX

As a postdoctoral fellow at the Colorado School of Mines, Simon worked with Dr. Christopher Higgins and Dr. Jennifer Field to identify novel classes of PFAS chemicals in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). At SCIEX, Simon specializes in method optimization and data reporting as he helps labs around the country set up PFAS and other environmental analytical methods.

Simon has spent nearly 15 years researching the distribution of PFAS in the environment. He has used his expertise to set up, optimize, and troubleshoot PFAS analysis at many major commercial, government, and academic environmental labs across North America. Simon lives in Denver and enjoys getting lost in the mountains and playing music