• Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, 06/1991-06/1993
• PhD, UMASS-Lowell, 1991
• BS, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, 1981

• AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award (2024)
• Robert Holland Jr. Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement (2023)
• I. M. Kolthoff Lectureship (2023)
• The Dal Nogare Award in Chromatography (2022)
• Outstanding Achievements in Separation Science, Eastern Analytical Symposium (2016)
• Fellow, American Chemical Society (2016)
• American Chemical Society Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences (2016)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2015)
• U.S.A. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) by The White House and NSF (Recognition: Jun 16, 2015)
• Proclamation of “Luis Colón Day,” City of Buffalo, Hispanic Heritage Council (Jun 13, 2015)
• The Benedetti-Pichler Award, The American Microchemical Society (2012)
• The 82^nd Jacob F. Schoellkopf Medal, WNY-American Chemical Society (2012)
• Geoffrey Marshall Mentoring Award, Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (2012)
• Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award (Inaugural Award), University at Buffalo (2012)
• American Chemical Society Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Promotion of Diversity in Chemical Sciences (2010)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Mentor Award (2009)
• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (2005)
• Inductee, The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame (2005)
• The Optimista Award, The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (2005)
• Faculty of the Year Award, Southern Regional Education Board, Compact for Faculty Diversity and AGEP (2003)
• Editor, Analyst (01/2001–06/2007)
• National Science Foundation Award for Special Creativity (1999-2001)
• Fellow, The Whitaker Foundation (1994-1997)
• National Science Foundation Minority Research Initiation Planning Award (1994)

Separation science and chemical measurements, liquid chromatography, HPLC column technology, synthesis and physicochemical characterization of chromatographic materials, capillary electrophoresis and electrochromatography.

The focus of our research is in the field of analytical chemistry, with particular interest on separation science. Our research group develops chromatographic media for chemical separations, detection schemes for monitoring mass-limited samples (i.e., micro scale), study the use of nanotechnology in separations, and develops new strategies to separate and analyze complex chemical or biochemical sample mixtures, such as biofluids, intracellular components, protein digests, and pharmaceutical drugs, among others. One current research effort is centered on the synthesis and physicochemical characterization and chromatographic behavior of new separation media for chromatography. Our chromatographic materials are synthesized in different formats (i.e., particles, thin films, and monoliths), which are suitable for HPLC, supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), and solid phase extraction. An example is the synthesis of fluorinated phases that can impart unique selectivity in the separation and isolation of fluorine-containing compounds (e.g., PFAS). We also use various separation techniques  (e.g., SFC, LC/MS, LC/ICP/MS) to analyze environmentally relevant samples (e.g., food, fresh water, and supplements) or of biological origin (e.g., saliva, cell lysates, and tear fluid). The latter sample type allows us to explore the potential of such fluids as a mean to sample chemical species suitable for clinical analysis/diagnosis. Our efforts have impact in many areas; some examples include the environmental, biomedical, and the pharmaceutical fields.

Chemistry Research

• Salazar, B.L.; Marr, Z.Y.; Benedict, J.B.; Colón, L.A., Separation and purification of diarylethene-based photoswitchable isomeric compounds by HPLC and SFC. J. Sep Sci. 2023, 202200830.
• Bui, T.; Colón, L.A.; Velarde, L.; Intermolecular Interactions at the Silica-Liquid Interface Modulate the Fermi Resonance Coupling in Surface Methanol, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2021, 5695-5702.
• Borges-Muñoz, A.C.; Miller, D.P.; Zurek, E.; Colón, L.A., Silanization of superficially porous silica particles with p-aminophenyltrimethoxysilane. Microchem. J. 2019, 147,263-268.
• Hu, Q. and Colón, L.A., Carbon Nanomaterials in Analytical Separations, in Carbon-based Nanomaterials in Analytical Chemistry, Garcia, C.D.; Crevillén, A.G.; Escarpa, A., Eds., Royal Society of Chemistry: London, 2018: Chapter 3, pp. 69-96.
• Vujcic, S.; Santiago-Capeles, L.; Tirado-González, K.M.; Borges-Munõz, A.C.; Colón, L.A., Hafnia and Zirconia Chromatographic Materials for the Enrichment of Phosphorylated Peptides. Adv. Chromatogr. 2018, 55, 51-67.
• Borges-Muñoz, A.C.; Colón, L.A., Evaluation of an amide-based stationary phase for supercritical fluid chromatography, J. Sep. Sci. 2016, 39, 3469-3476.
• He, P.; Colón, L.A., Aga D.S., Determination of Total Arsenic and Speciation in Apple Juice by Liquid Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: An Experiment for the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. J. Chem. Educ. 2016, 93, 1939-1944.
• Xue, Z.; Vinci, J.C.; Colón, L.A., Nanodiamond-decorated silica spheres as a chromatographic material. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 4149-4157.
• Vinci, J.C.; Ferrer, I.M.; Guterry, N.W.; Colón, V.M.; Destino, J.F.; Bright, F.V; Colón, L.A., Spectroscopic Characteristics of Carbon Dots (C-dots) Derived from Carbon Fibers and Conversion to Sulfur-Bridged C-dots Nanosheets. Appl. Spectrosc. 2015, 69, 1082-1090.
• Vinci, J.C.; Ferrer, I.M.; Seedhouse, S.J.; Bourdon, A.K.; Reynard, J.M.; Foster, B.A.; Bright, F.V.; Colón, L.A., Hidden Properties of Carbon Dots Revealed After HPLC Fractionation. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2013, 4, 239-243.
• Vinci, J.C.; Colón, L.A.; Surface chemical composition of chromatographically fractionated graphite nanofiber-derived carbon dots. Microchem. J. 2013, 110, 660-664.

Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences

• Noble, E.N., et al.; Building a Networked Improvement Community: Lessons in Organizing to Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM, Front. Psychol., 2021, 18. Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.732347
• Carter, M.J.; Colón, L.A.; De Cheke Qualls, A.; Deonauth, K.; Shiakolas, P.S. Cross university collaboration for stem education and social justice” Contexts, 2021. (Access)
• Colón, L.A., Increasing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences: Experiences and Lessons, in Diversity in the Scientific Community, Volume 2: Perspectives and Exemplary Programs, Nelson, D. and Cheng, H.N., Eds; ACS Symposium Series, 1256, American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2017: Chapter 10, 115-124.