Franka Kalman: a Pioneer in Modern Separation Science

Professor Franka Kalman, one of the world's leading scientists in analytical chemistry, has made remarkable contributions to modern separation science and (bio)pharmaceutical analysis. She is Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the School of Engineering of the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland (HES-SO Valais-Wallis) and is one of the Champion Women in Science for the 2025's eBook edition of Technology Networks. 

Technology Networks is a global online publication for scientists, with more than 1 million page views per month. Since 2018, it has produced an annual eBook celebrating remarkable women in science and sharing their experiences to inspire women and girls both in and thinking of pursuing a career in science. Previous contributors have included Jennifer Doudna, the 2020 Nobel Laureate, and many other inspiring women.

A Career Built on Innovation

Professor Kalman did postdoctoral research at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. She worked under the supervision of Professor Csaba Horvath, a pioneer of modern separation science and the father of Reversed Phase (RP) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the most widely used technique in pharmaceutical quality control today. Positioned at the intersection of basic science and industrial applications she conducted high-impact research in the early days of Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) and in Liquid Chromatography, significantly influencing modern separation science and modern (bio)pharmaceutical quality control.

After three years of postdoctoral studies with Professor Csaba Horvath, she spent 13 years in the Swiss pharmaceutical industry, where she and her group developed and introduced new innovative analytical methods mainly for biopharmaceuticals, at Ciba-Geigy AG (later Novartis Services AG, now Solvias AG). For her scientific and application-oriented contributions, she received the CEPharm Award from CASSS (Californian Separation Science Society) in 2012, recognizing her high impact on biopharmaceutical analysis and pharmaceutical sciences.

Revolutionizing Endotoxin Testing

At the Institute of Life Sciences of the HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Professor Kalman's group is conducting cutting-edge research into the characterization and quantification of endotoxins, a critical area for global health and pharmaceutical safety. Today, endotoxin detection and quantification is performed using outdated biological assays such as the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay, which uses the biological response of the blue blood of the prehistoric horseshoe crab to detect endotoxins. Professor Kalman’s group has developed an accurate and precise chemically based test using RP-HPLC, that does not raise ethical issues and works also in samples with high matrix loading. This has the potential to replace the outdated biological methods. Commercialization of this breakthrough is underway, with the launch of 'Endolab' planned for 2025.

Championing Women in Science

In addition to her research and teaching, Professor Kalman is committed to helping young scientists develop their careers and leadership skills. In recent years, she has actively supported the ETH-based Fix the Leaky Pipeline (FLP) program, a career development program for young women in science in Switzerland. 

Through her mentorship, Professor Kalman encourages young women scientists to take on leadership roles, gain international experience, and balance professional and personal ambitions.

A Path of Excellence and Mentorship

Professor Kalman's career embodies scientific innovation, resilience, and leadership. From revolutionizing analytical chemistry to championing women in science, her work continues to shape the future of science. Her message to future scientists is: "Stay curious, work smart, build strong networks, build bridges between basic science and industrial applications, and never let obstacles stop you".

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