SMASH 2024: Previewing the Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry Early Career Research Symposium

The SMASH NMR conference, established in 1999, focuses on the development and application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to small molecules (1). Initially created by industrial practitioners to emphasize underrepresented work in this field, SMASH NMR has since grown to include participants from various scientific sectors. SMASH NMR’s main objective at the conference is to advance knowledge in small molecule NMR spectroscopy, recognize significant scientific contributions, and foster collaboration through discussions (1).

NMR spectroscopy is a growing field in analytical spectroscopy. Because of its ability to reveal specific information about the molecular structure of matter, it has become a popular technique of choice in several applications, including the medical field (1).

SMASH maintains a non-partisan, international approach, alternating between the U.S. and Europe since 2003 (1). Although the conference structure remains consistent, it evolves to reflect changes in the scientific landscape, including the rise of entrepreneurial ventures. SMASH 2024 will be held in Burlington, Vermont, at the Hotel Champlain Vermont, where attendees can enjoy the onset of the New England fall season while engaging in discussions and attending various talks (1).

Burlington, Vermont, USA at Church Street Marketplace | Image Credit: © SeanPavonePhoto - stock.adobe.com

We have previously previewed two early Sunday user meetings that are set to take place at the beginning of the conference. In this article, we preview another session set to take place on the opening day of the SMASH NMR 2024 Conference—the Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry Early Career Research Symposium, as well as detail how the remainder of the first day of the SMASH Conference will go.

Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry (MRC) is a Wiley journal, and this will be their third year announcing the sponsorship of the SMASH-MRC Early Career Researchers Symposium (2). This event will feature a series of flash talks. These flash talks are miniature talks that last approximately three minutes each (2). These flash talks will be delivered by graduate and undergraduate researchers, post-doctoral fellows from academia and industry, and researchers working in the industry that received their PhD degree within five years of this year’s conference.

The idea of the Early Career Researchers Symposium is to provide an opportunity for young researchers to present their work in the field of NMR to the conference attendees. Topics that will be discussed at this symposium will cover various fields in NMR research, but all talks will be small molecule-related (2).

Once the SMASH-MRC Early Career Researchers Symposium concludes, it will be followed by an MRC mixer event, which will allow the early career researchers participating in the symposium to mingle and interact with one another before the opening conference mixer and dinner takes place (2). This mixer is designed to foster discussion of NMR science with their peers, and it also offers attendees the opportunity to contribute toward building an NMR community with researchers and scientists at a similar career stage (2). The mixer will take place at Hops and Harvest.

Sunday evening will feature a conference-wide dinner in the Adirondack Ballroom Salon D. This dinner officially opens the conference and allows for the attendees to gather in one space to socialize with the other attendees. The dinner is one of the highlights of the SMASH NMR Conference, and it reinforces the goal of the conference to build the NMR community.

The SMASH NMR 2024 Conference will take place from September 15th to September 18th, 2024.

References

(1) Wetzel, W. An Inside Look at the Upcoming SMASH Conference. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/an-inside-look-at-the-upcoming-smash-conference (accessed 2024-09-10).

(2) SMASH – Small Molecule NMR Conference, MRC – Early Career Researchers Symposium. SMASH NMR Conference. Available at: https://smashnmr.org/mrc-early-career-researchers-symposium/ (accessed 2024-09-10).