Jonathan Karty is a distinguished figure at Indiana University’s Chemistry Department, serving as the Assistant Chair for Administration and Director of Technical Services. Located within Chem C125f, his office is a hub for both administrative leadership and technical expertise. You can reach him at [email protected] or by phone at (812) 855-4619. Furthermore, he is connected to the Chair’s Office, highlighting his significant role within the department’s organizational structure.
Jonathan Karty, Assistant Chair for Administration and Director of Technical Services at Indiana University Chemistry Department
Educational Background and Early Research
Dr. Karty’s academic journey began at Purdue University, where he earned his B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1996. His early research interests were sparked there, focusing on photocatalysis on solid titania using solid-state NMR under the guidance of Professor M. Daniel Raftery. He continued his pursuit of advanced knowledge at Indiana University, culminating in a Ph.D. degree in Analytical Chemistry in 2004. His doctoral research, conducted under the supervision of Professor James Reilly, was diverse and impactful. Notably, he identified proteins composing the stalk assembly of Caulobacter crescentus in collaboration with Professor Yves Brun in Biology. Additionally, he contributed to the development of software designed to integrate sequence data from guanidination of lysine residues for peptide mass fingerprint data interpretation. His skillset also extended to hardware development, as he constructed a two-dimensional liquid chromatograph for complex mixture separation prior to QTOF MS analysis.
Broad Expertise in Mass Spectrometry
Jonathan Karty describes himself as a “mass spectrometry generalist,” and his expertise spans a wide array of techniques and applications within this field. His proficiency encompasses gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), thermal desorption, headspace inlets, and solid targets. He is experienced with various ionization sources including electron impact (EI), electrospray (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). These are coupled with diverse mass analyzers such as magnetic sector, time-of-flight (TOF), quadrupole, and orbitrap instruments. Dr. Karty also possesses significant experience in tandem mass spectrometry using triple quadrupole, ion trap, QTOF, tandem TOF, and q-orbitrap mass analyzers. As of June 2021, his extensive research contributions are reflected in his co-authorship of 82 publications and 26 conference proceedings, covering topics ranging from bacterial fingerprinting and metabolite identification to paleoclimate studies and electrochemical reaction mechanisms.
Leadership at the Mass Spectrometry Facility (MSF)
In 2004, Dr. Karty became the research associate and director of the Mass Spectrometry Facility (MSF) at Indiana University, injecting new vigor into the laboratory. During his directorship (2004-2019), the MSF experienced significant growth, expanding from 4 to 9 instruments, including an NSF-funded GC-QTOF system. He transformed the facility’s services by establishing walk-up low-resolution MS as a core offering and broadening the service portfolio to include LC-MS-MS, GC-MS based metabolomics, and thermal desorption GC-MS. Under his leadership, the MSF focused on three core competencies: providing high-quality, accurate mass spectrometry analyses, training graduate students and research fellows in modern mass spectrometry techniques, and assisting researchers in the analytical design of their projects. His contributions were recognized with appointments to Assistant Scientist in 2007, Associate Scientist in 2013, and Senior Scientist in 2019. He also served as Interim Director for the METACyt Biochemical Analysis Center from 2010-2012, before it merged into the Laboratory for Biological Mass Spectrometry (LBMS) in 2012.
Current Role and Ongoing Collaborations
Currently, as Assistant Chair for Administration and Director of Technical Facilities for the Chemistry Department (since 2019), Jonathan Karty continues to play a crucial role in the department’s operations and research infrastructure. Despite his administrative responsibilities, he remains actively involved in collaborative research projects. He is a senior member of the IU Phylotox project, a multidisciplinary initiative combining direct infusion mass spectrometry-based metabolomics with high-throughput genetic analyses to advance toxicology studies. This project has positioned IU as a key partner in the EU-sponsored PrecisionTox program. Furthermore, Dr. Karty has sustained a decade-long collaboration with a consortium studying chromatic acclimation in cyanobacteria, involving researchers from institutions worldwide. His collaborative spirit extends to local businesses in the Bloomington area, where he has partnered with companies like Cardinal Spirits, The Mad Optimist, and Knauf Insulation.
Ongoing Collaborations:
- IU Phylotox project
- PrecisionTox program
- Chromatic acclimation in cyanobacteria consortium (with IU-Biology, University of New Orleans, Roscoff Biological Station, LBMS at IU)
- Local businesses (Cardinal Spirits, The Mad Optimist, Quarrymen Coffee, Knauf Insulation, etc.)
Dr. Karty’s ORC-ID is 0000-0003-1022-9100, and his publication list (as of June 2021) is available at Jonathan Karty Publication List (June 2021). His career showcases a deep commitment to advancing chemical research and supporting the scientific community at Indiana University and beyond.
