Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Collaborative Research Platform

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a highly versatile, quantitative, and non-destructive analytical technique integral to modern research. It provides detailed molecular-level information for both pure compounds and complex mixtures in liquid and solid states. NMR spectroscopy enables rigorous structural elucidation, dynamics studies, and quantitative analysis with minimal sample preparation, supporting a broad range of research areas including chemistry, biology, materials science, and pharmaceuticals.

The Collaborative Research Platform for NMR spectroscopy has a range of NMR spectrometers at different field strengths (400-900 MHz). Our expert staff have extensive experience with a wide variety of NMR studies and are available to provide expert guidance with project planning, data analysis and optimisation.

Our spectrometers are used in many applications including:

Structure determination

Determination of the 3D structure of molecules, from small organic compounds and natural products to complex biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids can be achieved by NMR spectroscopy using advanced techniques. These experiments reveal atomic connectivity, stereochemistry, and molecular dynamics, providing a comprehensive overview of molecular structure and behaviour

Materials science

NMR spectroscopy is widely applied in materials science research. It is used to study polymers, battery materials, porous media, and food systems, offering insights into molecular structure, composition, and physical properties.

High-Throughput Screening

In metabolomics, NMR spectroscopy enables the analysis of complex biological fluids containing numerous metabolites. This approach supports biomarker discovery for disease characterisation. In addition, NMR-based ligand screening technologies play a key role in drug discovery by aiding the detection and optimisation of potential drug candidates.

Quantification

NMR spectroscopy can be used for accurate and reproducible quantification of chemical species without the need for creating a concentration curve. It is applied to measure nuclei such as proton (1H), phosphorus (31P) and fluorine (19F) in fields including environmental science, chemical engineering, and pharmaceuticals, enabling precise concentration determination in complex mixtures.

At The University of Queensland, NMR spectrometers (9) are managed by the Collaborative Research Platform (CRP) and are located across several facilities. These state-of-the-art instruments are supported by expert staff, enabling collaborative research and commercial engagement.

NMR Capabilities

Liquid-State NMR
Liquid-state NMR spectroscopy delivers high-resolution data on molecular structure and interactions in solution. It is widely used in pharmaceutical development, chemical analysis, and metabolomics - ideal for characterising small molecules, reaction pathways, and biomolecular interactions. Users can access any CRP facility across the UQ St Lucia campus after successfully completion of induction and training sessions.

CRP facilities:

Building 57 – Centre for Advanced Imaging
Building 60 – Gehrmann Laboratories
Building 68 – Chemistry Building
Building 80 – Queensland Biosciences Precinct

Available Spectrometers:

Bruker 400 MHz Avance III HD with a BBFO probe (walk-up access) - Building 68
Bruker 500 MHz Avance III HD with a BBFO, BBO or SEI probe - Buildings 60, 68, 80
Bruker 600 MHz Avance III HD with a TCI cryoprobe - Building 80
Bruker 700 MHz Avance III HD with a TCI cryoprobe - Building 57
Bruker 900 MHz Avance Neo with a TCI cryoprobe - Building 80

Solid-State NMR
Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is useful for the analysis of a variety of different types of solid-state samples:

powders, microcrystalline materials, single crystals
insoluble materials: coals, wood, soils, polymers
amorphous systems: glasses, gels, rubbers. It enables atomic-level structural and dynamic analysis where solution techniques are limited.

Location:

Building 60 – Gehrmann Laboratories

Available spectrometer:

Bruker 400 MHz Avance Neo with a 3.2mm CPMAS probe

Standard Research Services

The NMR facility is available to internal and external researchers on a user-pays basis.
With training you may conduct your own experiments, or we can process samples for you.
Additionally, our highly-trained staff can assist with interpretation and analysis of results.
Please contact nmr@uq.edu.au for further details.

NMR spectroscopy can be used for:

Structural characterisation and dynamics of solid samples.
Quantitative and quantitative mixture analysis containing known compounds.
Characterise unknown compounds by matching against spectral libraries or to infer the basic structure directly or with two-dimensional experiments.

Once you know the basic structure, you can use NMR spectroscopy to determine molecular conformation in a solution and to study physical properties at the molecular level, such as conformational exchange NOESY, ROESY and TOCSY, phase changes, solubility and diffusion (DOSY).

Our instruments are used for the following applications:

determination of high-resolution structures of biological macromolecules such as proteins.
characterisation of protein/ligand interactions.
determination of molecular size and oligomerisation state.
metabonomic studies of various biofluids

Accessing the NMR Facility

The Collaborative Research Platform (CRP) NMR Spectroscopy Facility provides both autonomous instrument access and full-service NMR analysis for internal and external users. The pathway to access depends on your experience level, training requirements, and whether you intend to operate the instruments yourself or use the facility as a service.

Before accessing the facility, all users should discuss their NMR requirements with facility staff so that the most appropriate instruments, experiments, and access pathway can be identified.

Access Pathways

There are three primary ways to access the facility:

UQ Internal Autonomous Use: for UQ trained users wishing to operate instruments independently.
UQ Internal Service: for UQ users requiring staff-operated NMR experiments.
External Service: for external organisations and collaborators requiring NMR services.

Below outlines the recommended access pathway depending on your experience and requirements.

UQ Internal Autonomous Use

Autonomous access is intended for UQ researchers who wish to independently operate NMR spectrometers after completing the required inductions and training.

Login to RIMS with your UQ Student or Staff ID and review the facility access agreement, risk assessments, and SOPs: https://rims.uq.edu.au/?NMR

Meeting: Discuss your NMR requirements with facility staff by submitting a meeting request in RIMS. This is highly recommended for new users of NMR.

Create an NMR project request or join a project in RIMS. Check with your supervisor if unsure.

Induction: Complete any required building inductions necessary and an NMR room induction by submitting an induction request in RIMS.

Training: Complete instrument training by submitting a training request for the spectrometers you intend to use in RIMS.

Book and use instruments autonomously through RIMS once approved.

UQ Internal Service Access

Service access is available for UQ researchers who prefer facility staff to acquire and/or process NMR data.

Meeting: For services you must first discuss your NMR requirements with facility staff by submitting a meeting request in RIMS.

Submit an NMR Service Request form in RIMS.

Arrange sample delivery with facility staff.

External Service Users

The facility also provides NMR services for external academic, government, and industry users.

Contact the facility at: nmr@uq.edu.au

Discuss your NMR requirements and service arrangements with facility staff.

A quote and/or service agreement will be provided by the facility.

Arrange sample submission with facility staff.

Unsure Which Access Pathway You Need?

If you are unsure which access pathway is appropriate, please contact the NMR facility and we will help guide you through the process.

Associate Professor Greg Pierens - Academic Director and Operation Manager

**Dr Greg Pierens**
Associate Professor
CRP for NMR Spectroscopy
g.pierens@uq.edu.au
ORCID 0000-0002-4731-4045

Greg Pierens is the Academic Director and Operational Manager of the NMR Spectroscopy Collaborative Research Platform at The University of Queensland (UQ). He leads the strategic development, operation, and advancement of NMR spectroscopy capabilities.

He has extensive expertise in solution‑state NMR spectroscopy, with strengths in small‑molecule analysis, multinuclear NMR, and high‑throughput workflows.

Greg works closely with researchers, industry partners, and institutional stakeholders to ensure the platform remains at the forefront of modern NMR practice.

Dr Rebecca R. Hawker - Senior Principal Spectroscopist

Rebecca Hawker has been an NMR Facility Manager since 2021, with responsibility for NMR spectrometers at the School of Chemistry, University of Leicester (UK), the Central Analytical Research Facility at Queensland University of Technology, and currently at The University of Queensland. Her work focuses on the day‑to‑day operation of NMR facilities, including instrument oversight, user support, training, and service delivery. She particularly enjoys puzzling over unusual spectra and testing new or unconventional experiments or nuclei.

Rebecca was originally trained as a physical‑organic chemist. She completed a PhD in Chemistry at the University of New South Wales, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Sheffield (UK). Her research examined reaction kinetics and solvent effects in ionic liquids and molecular solvents, using NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. This research background informs her current approach to facility management and research support.

Dr Laurence K. Jennings - Principal Research Technician/Scientist

**Dr Laurence K Jennings**
Principal Technician
CRP for NMR Spectroscopy
l.jennings@uq.edu.au
ORCID 0000-0002-1313-0360

Laurence Jennings is a Principal Technician with extensive experience in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and its application to complex chemical systems. He completed his PhD at Griffith University in 2018, specialising in marine natural products chemistry, before undertaking postdoctoral research at the University of Galway supported by a Marine Institute Fellowship.

Laurence has worked across academic and international research environments, including roles in Ireland and Abu Dhabi, where he focused on the identification and characterisation of bioactive compounds. His expertise centres on the structural elucidation of complex molecules, with a strong emphasis on advanced NMR techniques, data interpretation and the application of computational chemistry methods for NMR prediction and structure validation.

In his current role, Laurence supports a broad range of researchers and industry clients, providing guidance on experimental design, method development, and data analysis. He has experience working with both routine and complex NMR experiments, and is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality results while helping users get the most out of the facility.

Dr Yady Senayda Garcia Castillo - Principal Research Technician/Scientist

**Dr Yady Senayda García Castillo**
Principal Research Technician/Scientist
CRP for NMR Spectroscopy
y.garciacastillo@uq.edu.au
ORCID 0000-0002-7020-7221
Linkedin - Yadysenaydagarciacastillo

Yady Senayda García Castillo is a Research Technician specialising in solid-state NMR spectroscopy, with additional experience supporting liquid-state NMR experiments. She uses 1D and 2D NMR techniques, including static, MAS, and diffusion experiments, at both room and variable temperature (VT).

Her work focuses on the structural characterisation and dynamics of complex materials, including catalysts, battery materials, and environmental samples in forms such as powders, gels, films, and fibres.

She supports users in optimising experimental design, preparing challenging samples, and selecting appropriate methodologies to obtain meaningful and reliable data.

She works closely with researchers to address questions related to material performance, structure–property relationships, and chemical transformations. Whether troubleshooting complex systems or developing tailored experimental strategies, her goal is to ensure users get the most out of their NMR experiments. She is also open to exploring new NMR applications and developing innovative approaches to address emerging research challenges.

Key Publications

García Y, Porcarelli L, Zhu H, Mecerreyes D, Forsyth M, O'Dell LA. Physical properties and ion dynamics in composites of the organic ionic plastic crystal N-ethyl-N-methyl pyrrolidinium bis (fluorosulfonyl)amide with lithium sulphonamide functional acrylate polymer nanoparticles. Journal of Materials Chemistry A.;12(7):4146-58 (2024).

García Y, Porcarelli L, Kang C, Zhu H, Mecerreyes D, Forsyth M, et al. Structure and Dynamics in Solid Electrolyte Composites of the Organic Ionic Plastic Crystal HMGFSI and Lithium Sulphonamide Functional Acrylate Polymer Nanoparticles. ChemPhysChem.;25(23):e202400440 (2024).

García, Y. & O’Dell, L. A. Understanding the interfacial region in organic ionic plastic crystal compositeelectrolyte materials by solid-state NMR. Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 61, 101632 (2022).

García, Y., Porcarelli, L., Zhu, H., Forsyth, M., Mecerreyes, D. & O’Dell, L. A. Probing disorder and dynamics in composite electrolytes of an organic ionic plastic crystal and lithium functionalised acrylic polymer nanoparticles. J. Magn. Reson. Open 14–15, 100095 (2023).

Huang, G., Zhu, H., Porcarelli, L., García, Y., O’Dell, L. A. & Forsyth, M. Study of Ion Transport in Novel Protic Polymerized Ionic Liquids and Composites. Macromol. Chem. Phys.223, 1–8 (2022).

Ramos-Saz, F., García, Y., Kang, C. S. M., O’Dell, L. A., Forsyth, M. & Pringle, J. M. Exploring the influence of the cation type and polymer support in bis(fluorosulfonyl)imida based plastic crystal composite membranes for CO2/N2 separation. J. Mater. Chem. A (2021).

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Ms Han Tran - Senior Administration Officer

Han Tran is an experienced Senior Administration Officer at The University of Queensland, with a strong background in research infrastructure, IT operations, project coordination, and high-level administrative support. Since beginning her career in university IT support and administration, she has developed a broad skill set across governance support, financial administration, stakeholder engagement, procurement, and service delivery.

In her current role supporting the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure), she provides high-level administrative and operational support to the NMR Spectroscopy team. This includes coordinating procurement and invoicing processes, supporting project and event delivery, maintaining accurate records, and contributing to service improvements across the University. Han works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure operational requirements are met, issues are resolved efficiently, and services are delivered to a high standard.

Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience across Information Technology Services and Research Infrastructure, including project support for large infrastructure programs and governance support for senior committees. She brings a proactive, organised, and detail-oriented approach, with strong communication skills and a commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration, and effective service delivery.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Collaborative Research Platform

NMR Capabilities

Standard Research Services

Accessing the NMR Facility

Ms Han Tran - Senior Administration Officer

Book Facilities (UQ only)