Inaugural Homemade Evaporator Contest Results - The Peak of Ingenuity

At Organomation, we are continually inspired by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of scientists who push the boundaries of research, even when working with limited resources. That’s why we launched our First Annual Homemade Evaporator Contest—to celebrate and reward those who find creative ways to conduct essential laboratory work, despite the limited funds or other resources.

Winning Solution: Katy Callaghan – University of Georgia

After reviewing all the incredible submissions, we are thrilled to announce that the winner of our inaugural contest is Katy Callaghan, Research Professional I, from the University of Georgia!

Katy and her team in the Wilde Lab, an aquatic toxicology laboratory at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry, have demonstrated remarkable innovation in their research on cyanobacterial toxins and breakdown products. Their homemade sample evaporator has been a crucial tool in their toxin extraction and QuEChERS work, allowing them to evaporate between 20-30 samples per week, a process that typically takes them a couple hours per evaporation batch.

The laboratory has made significant contributions to scientific research, even publishing their toxin extraction methods in the academic journal Science by AAAS. Their sample concentrator—affectionately described as the "beloved homemade evaporator"—has been instrumental in their research. Over the years, it has been used, broken, repaired, and taped up by a dedicated team of students. The Wilde Lab takes pride in its reputation for developing creative solutions to scientific challenges, and this award-winning DIY evaporator is a testament to their perseverance and ingenuity.

In recognition of their hard work and dedication, Organomation is proud to award the Wilde Lab a brand-new evaporation system to support their ongoing research efforts. The team expressed their appreciation, stating:

“The students and staff of Dr. Susan Wilde's aquatic toxicology laboratory at the University of Georgia graciously accept this award from Organomation. The research conducted in our lab has always been of the ‘do-it-yourself’ kind—often at the expense of efficiency. This Organomation evaporator will aid in our efforts to optimize our extraction techniques to accurately detect cyanobacterial neurotoxins and provide data more rapidly and reliably for publication as well as to our local, state, and federal collaborators.”

We are honored to support such dedicated researchers and look forward to seeing how the new evaporator will enhance their work. Congratulations to Katy Callaghan and the entire Wilde Lab team!

Honorable Mentions

In addition to our grand prize winner, we would like to recognize two outstanding submissions that earned honorable mentions for their creative and resourceful homemade evaporators.

Karim Lopez – CEIMIC PERU SAC

Karim Lopez impressed us with their homemade evaporator used for concentrating food samples extracted by QuEChERS. Their evaporator stood out for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, utilizing low-cost materials to achieve reliable sample concentration. 

Angie Boysen – Pacific Lutheran University

Angie Boysen’s homemade evaporator plays a crucial role in organic compound analysis in marine samples. By assembling an evaporator from a hot plate, metal block, 3D printed manifold, luer lock needles, and a nitrogen tank, they created an affordable yet highly effective system. 

Thank you to all who participated in our First Annual Homemade Evaporator Contest. Your ingenuity and passion for scientific research inspire us every day. Stay tuned for future contests, and keep innovating!

To learn more about how Organomation's nitrogen evaporators could support your research, speak to our experts today at sales@organomation.com or start a live chat during normal business hours.