Dr. John Mclean is welcoming applications from prospective graduate students for Fall 2025, offering a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research within his dynamic group at Vanderbilt University. The McLean research group is at the forefront of developing and applying advanced mass spectrometry technologies, with a core focus on ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS). Their work pioneers structural and molecular scale measurements, pushing the boundaries of analytical science.
At the heart of Dr. John McLean’s research is ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), a powerful two-dimensional analytical technique known for its rapid separation capabilities based on molecular size and mass. This technique allows for separations in microseconds to milliseconds. The McLean group expertly integrates IM-MS with other separation dimensions, such as liquid chromatography (LC) and tandem MS, to achieve comprehensive, untargeted analyses of molecules from biological origins. This includes a wide array of biomolecules, from metabolites and carbohydrates to lipids, peptides, and proteins. This multidimensional mass spectrometry approach provides an unparalleled depth of insight into the molecular composition of samples. Researchers can dissect data at each dimension level, gaining specific molecular details such as chemical hydrophobicity from LC, gas-phase size from IM, intrinsic mass from MS, and bond connectivity and functional groups from tandem MS/MS.
The elegance of Dr. John McLean’s multidimensional MS strategy lies in its efficiency. A wealth of physiochemical properties can be derived from a single measurement using microliter sample volumes. This efficiency is crucial for rapidly analyzing large sample libraries, enabling both broad and deep chemical understanding at the systems biology level. Recent publications from the McLean group highlight their advancements in next-generation IM-MS technologies and the use of sophisticated informatics for data interrogation, including machine and deep learning methodologies. Their applications of multidimensional MS technologies are diverse and impactful, addressing critical challenges across various fields. Examples include the chemical elucidation of pharmaceutical formulations, studying the dynamics of protein unfolding, structural analysis of synthetic polymers, and the separation of chiral compounds and stereoisomers. Furthermore, Dr. John McLean’s group is applying these techniques to identify molecular biosignatures of bio-engineered microorganisms and artificial organ constructs, tackle isomer complexities in lipidomic studies, analyze the chemical composition of foods, and integrate precision metrology techniques into ion mobility experiments.
Dr. John McLean’s current research is deeply embedded in collaborative research initiatives. His group actively partners with leading global institutions across instrumentation development, biopharmaceutical companies, and non-profit organizations, all aimed at fostering advancements for environmental and societal betterment. Within Vanderbilt and beyond, collaborations extend into medicine and health-related research, where rapid, high-content chemical measurements are essential. The group also emphasizes bioinformatics and machine learning approaches to extract actionable insights from complex biomolecular datasets.
Joining Dr. John McLean’s research group offers a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of mass spectrometry and contribute to impactful research with real-world applications. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to apply for Fall 2025 to become part of this innovative and collaborative environment.
