We've been testing this internally at UCL for several months (thanks @nickynak3.bsky.social!). Thanks also to the NMR centre at the Crick for additional testing.
The schema is an early release. I'd welcome input from the community on what information matters. Try it out and get involved! 5/
The metadata format is defined by a versioned JSON schema (v0.1.0) covering solution and solid-state NMR. The goal is an open community standard for sample-level metadata that supports FAIR data practices. #FAIRdata 4/
github.com/nmr-samples/schema
Screenshot of NMR Sample Manager for Topspin showing the experiment timeline view
NMR Sample Manager for TopSpin (v3+) provides replacements for ij, ej, and sx that capture sample info at injection. The 'samples' command opens an editor, timeline and searchable catalogue. Check experiment times and SampleJet positions even without annotations. 3/
nmr-samples.github.io/topspin/
Screenshot of NMR Sample Manager for Topspin showing sample and buffer compositions.
It's designed to be lightweight so all fields are optional – record as much or as little as you need. There's no server or database, so sample metadata is as private and secure as your raw experimental data. 2/
We've been developing NMR Samples, a set of open-source tools for recording sample information like composition, concentrations, labelling, buffers, tube or rotor details, as human-readable JSON files alongside experimental data directories. #nmrchat #openscience
nmr-samples.github.io 1/
Will be great if it actually goes ahead! Fingers crossed :)
JOB ALERT!
We are recruiting for a Research Technical Specialist in NMR Spectroscopy, within UCL School of Pharmacy to cover for maternity leave - full details on the link below
@chriswaudby.bsky.social
@nickynak3.bsky.social
@ucllifesciences.bsky.social
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Advert is out for my maternity leave cover - please spread the word! 7 month position starting in April 2026 #NMRchat
A liquid nitrogen dewar after an NMR magnet fill. The curve of the pink rubber tubing, still frozen in position from the delivery of liquid nitrogen, terminated by a clear adaptor tube with a black tip appears to resemble a flamingo's neck and head.
"Found Flamingo", NMR lab, 2026.
I don't think AI can handle the transdimensional portals and demons that come out each time a student mistunes the NMR so badly. We know the battles NMR facility managers fight to keep us safe from evil. Thank you. No AI can replace that.
Good grief 😱 Well, at least my job is safe for now.
#NMRchat
Screenshot of LinkedIn’s menu: “How LinkedIn uses your data”. Near the bottom, is the option to turn off “Data for Generative AI improvement”, shown with a red arrow.
🤖 If you use LinkedIn, please be aware that they automatically use your profile to train their GenAI. To turn off, go to Settings > Data Privacy > Data for Gen AI improvements.
So excited that our lab's first home-grown paper is now available on ChemRxiv!
Kinetic NMR screening: rapidly quantifying fast ligand dissociation in fragment mixtures using ¹⁹F relaxation dispersion | doi.org/10.26434/che... 🧲🧪
Is it OK for me to collect NMR data while the magnet is being refilled with liquid helium? u-of-o-nmr-facility.blogspot.com/2011/09/reso... #nmr #nmrchat #chemsky
Looking forward to giving a webinar tomorrow with @nickynak3.bsky.social about our efforts to establish a 19F NMR fragment screening platform at UCL. Register below and join us to find out more!
Friday 19th September, 2pm (UK)
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-fr... #NMRchat #NMR @ucltro.bsky.social
Just assembled my own NMR 'LABO' set thanks to @fredaperras.bsky.social! Now I only need to buy a head which actually fits on the body 😂 #nmrchat
There's nothing quite like struggling through a day's worth of experiments (including the spec deciding to lock onto the wrong solvent just for funsies) and then just before leaving finally - finally! - getting proof of protein-ligand binding 😅 #nmrchat
Imagine if people showed pride for their country by making it a genuinely nice place to be and welcoming others so your actual actions reinforced the very thing you are proud of
MOOC NMR 2025 training course (in three parts) 🧲
The first part, Basics of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, from Sep 23 to Nov 10, 2025. Free registration is now open. Make sure your students are enrolled, excellent introduction to NMR! www.fun-mooc.fr/en/courses/b... #NMRchat @olivierlafon.bsky.social
Ring: take over Gondor and then the world
Boromir: tempting. need
Ring: all shall love you and despair
Galadriel: tempting what a test
Ring: do so much good that you become a god
Gandalf: don't! tempt me frodo!
Ring:
Sam:
Ring:
Sam:
Ring: like a, like a really big garden
Sam: I'm good
Ring: fuck
Have a read of this article from SoP's own @rachael-dickman.bsky.social, Duncan Browne and others discussing how we can foster a safe and productive environment in chemistry labs. It's so crucial that we develop a culture of responsibility, for everyone's sakes. #ChemSky
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Olivier Lafon @olivierlafon.bsky.social has been appointed to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Merit (France) infranalytics.eu/en/science/2... #NMRnews #NMRchat #NMR 🧲
Let them dance!
Friday, September 19, 9 am UK, Webinar: Fragment Screening using 19F NMR at the UCL School of Pharmacy, Nikita Harvey @nickynak3.bsky.social and Christopher Waudby @chriswaudby.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-fr... #NMRchat #NMR 🧲
Yep! I usually end up saying this most to Operations/Estates/contractors.
Simple transfer of 190ul into a 3mm tube took my robot almost exactly one minute for one sample, including the clean step.
If it would help, I can find out the time per sample for a specific method e.g. straight transfer of 600ul per sample to a tube?
If you're regularly prepping 96 well plates with the same or similar methods then I think a prep robot is well worth it. It may not be quicker overall than hand prep (though it can be pretty efficient with non-viscous liquids) but you'll get more reliable ergonomic prep with less hands-on time.
I've also found that they have a very limited selection of plate configurations. A student came to me with the well plates she was using for UV, but the needle didn't go down deep enough into the well and the safeguards won't let me create a minus Z-axis offset.
In theory we can use an Excel sheet to submit jobs to the queue, which is incredibly helpful when we have varieties of volumes to transfer or a complicated sequence of transfers. Unfortunately their macro has broken on my computer and they haven't figured out how to fix it. I think they've given up.
