Established in 1978, Karl Winsauer was appointed full professor for Analytical Chemistry, setting up a new research group in this field. His research focused on organic analytical chemistry with a strong focus on industry partnerships. One of his predominant research areas was chromatography in its different variations, including the then emerging HPLC techniques, combined with new detectors, and electroanalysis. Karl Winsauer retired in 1990.

Between 1991 and 1994, Günther Bonn followed as head of Analytical Chemistry and broadened his scientific activities to include new topics, such as bioanalytics and phytoanalytics. He left the University of Linz in 1994 to accept a professorship at the University of Innsbruck.

Wolfgang Buchberger became a full professor of analytical chemistry in 1996. His research interests included the field of environmental analysis. Advanced instrumentation, such as high-resolution mass spectrometry, was purchased to conduct organic trace analysis. Between 2005 and 2010, new polymer chemistry and polymer engineering institutes were launched in Linz; Analytical Chemistry took advantage of these new opportunities to collaborate, pursuing additional activities in polymer analytics. Around 2015, projects with the JKU's new Faculty of Medicine opened a third line of research focusing on metabolomics and medicinal chemistry.

Habilitations (Post-Docs) at the Institute of Analytical Chemistry at the Johannes Kepler University:

• Friedrich Nachtmann (1983)
• Hans Malissa (1985)
• Wolfgang Buchberger (1989)
• Christian Klampfl (2001)
• Markus Himmelsbach (2015)