Bhupendra Gurung, Ph.D.

Mass Spectrometry & Ion Mobility Scientist

Advancing analytical chemistry through innovative research in mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry, with expertise in explosives detection and biomolecular analysis

Bhupendra Gurung - Research Scientist

Education

Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, New Mexico

  • Specialized in Mass Spectrometry
  • Focus on Ion Mobility Techniques
  • Advanced Instrumentation

M.S. in Chemistry

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, New Mexico

  • Advanced Research Methods
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Instrumental Techniques

M.Sc. in Chemistry

Tribhuvan University

Kirtipur, Nepal

  • Chemistry Specialization
  • Research Methodology
  • Advanced Chemical Analysis

B.Sc. in Chemistry

Prithivi Narayan Campus

Pokhara, Nepal

  • Foundation in Chemistry
  • Laboratory Techniques
  • Chemical Principles

Research Expertise

Mass Spectrometry

  • High-Resolution MS Analysis
  • Tandem MS Techniques
  • Method Development
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Structural Characterization

Ion Mobility Spectrometry

  • DTIMS Analysis
  • IM-MS Integration
  • Separation Optimization

Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

University of Texas Health Science Center

San Antonio, TX

August 2023 - Present

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM

November 2021 - June 2023

  • DHS funded project
  • Research in explosives detection and analysis

Graduate Research Assistant

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM

August 2016 - May 2019, May 2021 - August 2021

  • Conducted research in mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry
  • Developed analytical methods for explosives detection
  • Collaborated on multiple research projects

Graduate Teaching Assistant

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM

August 2014 - August 2016, October 2020 - May 2021

  • Assisted in teaching undergraduate chemistry courses
  • Conducted laboratory sessions
  • Mentored undergraduate students

Awards & Recognition

  • Frederick Coulston Graduate Scholarship

    2018-2019

  • Asprey Family Endowed Scholarship Fund

    2018-2019

  • PhD Tuition Scholarships

    2020-2021

Research Achievements

Mass Spectrometry Innovations

  • First known determination of fragment ions from field induced fragmentation at high pressures (660 torr) using drift tube-mass spectrometer
  • Designed and built a mass spectrometer interface for DHS funded non-contactless sampling system for explosive detection
  • On-site monitoring of Aflatoxin B1 in Pistachio nut using NMSU built technology coupled to Shimadzu 2010 mass spectrometer
  • Exploration of metabolites distribution in kidney and heart tissues using mass spectrometry imaging

Ion Mobility Spectrometry Breakthroughs

  • Designed and built a kinetic tandem drift tube for measuring decomposition rates of chloride adducts of PETN
  • Developed three-ion shutter-based ion mobility drift tube combined with quadrupole mass spectrometer for kinetic studies
  • Explored non-conventional drift tube designs for ion mobility spectrometry (NDA protected)
  • Evaluated performance of commercial trace explosives detectors (NDA protected)

Publications & Presentations

Research Publications

Hossein Shokri, Maika Vuki, Ben Gardner, Hsein-Chi Niu, Umesh Chiluwal, Bhupendra K Gurung, David B Emery and Gary A. Eiceman

"Reactive Tandem ion mobility spectrometry with electric field fragmentation of alcohols at ambient pressure"

Anal. Chem, 2019, 91, 9, 6281 – 6287

Bhupendra K. Gurung, John A. Stone, and Gary A. Eiceman

"Thermal decomposition of the chloride and nitrate adducts of pentaerythritol tetranitrate in air at ambient pressure using a cross flow design tandem ion mobility spectrometry"

Int.J.Mass Spectrom, 2021, 469, 116686

Bhupendra K. Gurung, John A. Stone, and Gary A. Eiceman

"NO3- loss from nitrate adducts of explosives by thermal decomposition in tandem ion mobility spectrometry and by collision induced dissociation in tandem mass spectrometry"

Int.J.Mass Spectrom, 2024, 500, 117235

Bhupendra K. Gurung, John A. Stone, and Gary A. Eiceman

"Collision induced dissociation –mass spectrometry and thermal decomposition- ion mobility spectrometry of chloride adducts of explosives"

In progress

Richard G, Ye Ji Choi, Guanshi Z, Hodgin J, Schaub J, Tamayo IM, Bhupendra KG, et al.

"Attenuated kidney oxidative metabolism in young adults with type 1 diabetes"

J Clin Invest

Conference Presentations

"Thermal decomposition and collision induced dissociation of nitrate adducts of explosives in ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometer respectively"

with Stone, J., Eiceman, G.A.

2022 International Conference on Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Memphis, Tennessee

"Fragmentation of protonated monomers of alkyl acetates at ambient pressure in electric fields"

with Lee, J., Schnieder, B.B., Kang, Y., Eiceman, G.A.

70th ASMS conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics

Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 2022

"Collision induced dissociation of chloride adducts of nitrate and nitrate based explosives using tandem mass spectrometry"

with Fard M. T., Lee, J., Stone, J., Eiceman, G.A

30th ISIMS virtual conference

July 2021

"A cross flow design of a tandem ion mobility spectrometer for the study of the thermal decomposition of the chloride and nitrate adducts of pentaerythritol (PETN) in air at ambient pressure"

with Stone, J., Eiceman, G.A.

12th NeSA international conference

April 2021

"Decomposition of PETN•Cl- in air at ambient Pressure with a Drift tube-MS and Tandem Ion mobility spectrometer: Experimental and Computation Findings"

with Stone, J., Eiceman, G.A.

29th Annual Meeting of the Intl. Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry

July 2020, virtual poster symposium

"Study of thermal decomposition of chloride adduct of PETN using Nebulizer side flow ion mobility spectrometry"

with Stone, J., Eiceman, G.A.

27th Annual Meeting of the Intl. Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Calgary, Alberta, Canada, July 2018

"Characterization of Chemical Family Specific Ion fragmentation using GC-API/fragmenter-MS"

with Fowler, P., Chiluwal, U., Eiceman, G.A.

26th Annual Meeting of the Intl. Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Warsaw, Poland, July 2017

Specialized Skills

Computational Skills

  • Computational calculations of reaction enthalpies using Gaussian and Spartan software packages
  • SIMION for potential contours and ion motion calculations in electric fields
  • Autodesk Inventor for drift tube component modeling
  • Data analysis and visualization

Analytical Techniques

  • Mass Spectrometry (MS)
  • Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS)
  • Gas Chromatography (GC)
  • Liquid Chromatography (LC)
  • Explosives Detection and Analysis

Technical Skills

  • Instrument Design and Development
  • Hardware Component Fabrication
  • Milling Machine Operation
  • Drill Press Operation
  • Hand Tool Proficiency

Get in Touch

Services & Leadership

  • Judge

    13th International Conference 2022, Nepalese Student Association (NeSA), NMSU, Las Cruces, NM

  • Executive Member

    Nepalese Student Association (NeSA), NMSU, Las Cruces, NM (2017-2018)

  • Secretary

    Nepalese Student Association (NeSA), NMSU, Las Cruces, NM (2015-2016)

  • Sports Director

    Nepalese Student Association (NeSA), NMSU, Las Cruces, NM (2014-2015)

  • Co-Organizer

    NMSU (NeSA) and UNM (Nepalese Student Association)

    NeSA (NMSU) and Chinese Student Association (NMSU)

  • Sports Organizer

    Weekly football organizer, campus wide

  • Vice-Secretary

    T.U Tamu Pariwar, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal (2010)