Tim Smith
@chemsmith.bsky.social
Chemist, dad, husband, slow endurance athlete. Currently make/purify stable isotope compounds at MilliporeSigma. I like being with my wife and daughter, working out, traveling, hiking, broadway shows, rock n roll, tolerant joyful smart people.
Some only flew into the nearby tree when I got close. 🧪
January 10, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Some only flew into the nearby tree when I got close. 🧪
Smart/birder friends, why did all these little birds fly into my neighbor’s bush and get all chirpy TODAY? Near Cincinnati Ohio. 🧪
January 10, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Smart/birder friends, why did all these little birds fly into my neighbor’s bush and get all chirpy TODAY? Near Cincinnati Ohio. 🧪
Dream: some billionaire (trillionaire?) opens a gigantic laboratory where regular (non-superstar) scientists could work on their pet idea(s) for a year or two, to see if it’s feasible. Imagine the discoveries that would happen, the collaborations formed. 🧪 #chemsky #chemchat
Also: Max Jr.
Also: Max Jr.
January 1, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Found this little guy in our bathroom. I guess he is a “bold jumping spider.” some people keep them as pets.
December 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Found this little guy in our bathroom. I guess he is a “bold jumping spider.” some people keep them as pets.
Max Jr found a sun puddle.
December 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Max Jr found a sun puddle.
Hard to resist a little plod-jog in gently falling snow.
December 14, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Hard to resist a little plod-jog in gently falling snow.
Topo Trail Run. East Fork State Park, Ohio. Still running shorter races while trying to build back after 18 months of injuries. Not to mention old age and some lazy training. But, still enjoying it.
December 8, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Topo Trail Run. East Fork State Park, Ohio. Still running shorter races while trying to build back after 18 months of injuries. Not to mention old age and some lazy training. But, still enjoying it.
Is IR spectroscopy dead? Is anyone routinely using it? Can it be used to indicate purity? I figure I’m just clueless here - my company goes with other methods (e.g., NMR, HPLC-GC, KF, MP/BP, titration, ion chromatography) to access structure/purity. #chemsky #chemchat
Max Jr also wants to know.
Max Jr also wants to know.
November 14, 2025 at 4:44 PM
ORRRC (Ohio) Veterans 10 Miler. Finished it 2 min slower than my half marathon PR. 🤨 🧑🏻🦯
November 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
ORRRC (Ohio) Veterans 10 Miler. Finished it 2 min slower than my half marathon PR. 🤨 🧑🏻🦯
It’s that time of year.
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 AM
It’s that time of year.
Anyone here with practical knowledge about making phenylalanine from phenylpyruvate using phenylalanine dehydrogenase (or similar)? #chemsky 🧪
November 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Anyone here with practical knowledge about making phenylalanine from phenylpyruvate using phenylalanine dehydrogenase (or similar)? #chemsky 🧪
Is anyone here good at separating amino acids from one another (on gram scale). E.g., using resins? For example separating methionine from isoleucine. I’m a bit new at it. #chemsky 🧪
October 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Is anyone here good at separating amino acids from one another (on gram scale). E.g., using resins? For example separating methionine from isoleucine. I’m a bit new at it. #chemsky 🧪
Benzyl chloroformate is not trivial to come by. Been waiting on an order from Acros. Does anyone know 1. where to get it from fairly quickly and/or 2. alternatives to benzyl chloroformate for making Cbz-protected amines. (Yes it needs to be Cbz protected.) #chemsky 🧪
October 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Benzyl chloroformate is not trivial to come by. Been waiting on an order from Acros. Does anyone know 1. where to get it from fairly quickly and/or 2. alternatives to benzyl chloroformate for making Cbz-protected amines. (Yes it needs to be Cbz protected.) #chemsky 🧪