2025 Board of Directors Election

All members of the Metabolomics Society are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the 2025 Board of Directors election. Voting is open now through September 17, 2025, at 11:59pm USA CST. Complete details on elections can be found here.

This webpage contains a list of nominees as well as biographies and statements of interest regarding serving on the Board. You can meet the candidates and review their mission statements by clicking on each nominee below. Please take a moment to review this information before placing your votes.

Running for a Second Term

Candice Ulmer

New Nominees

Masanori Arita

Chris Beecher

Anne Bendt

Kyo Bin Kang

Susan Bird

Philip Britz-McKibbin

Mónica Cala

Alex Dickens

Art Edison

Tim Garrett

Nicola Gray

Steven Gross

Anna Halama

Heino Heyman

David Heywood

Drew Jones

Sakda Khoomrung

Stephan Klatt

Ville Koistinen

Julia Kuligowski

Estelle Pujos-Guillot

Thusitha Rupasinghe

Christoph Trautwein

How To Vote:

Each member has six (6) votes. You must be a current member of the Society. If you have not signed up for membership in 2025, sign up here: 2025 Membership. Once you have activated your membership you can vote in the election.

Voting is now open through September 17, 2025, at 11:59pm USA CST.

Contact info@metabolomicssociety.org for assistance.

Candice Ulmer

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
USA

Biography:

Candice Z. Ulmer Holland, Ph.D. is Chemistry Branch Chief and Acting Laboratory Director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) Eastern Laboratory, where she oversees national regulatory testing programs for chemical residues, food composition, and nutritional content in meat, poultry, egg, and fish products. This work also encompasses the analysis of several emerging contaminant metabolite/lipid markers by mass spectrometry. Dr. Ulmer Holland has over a decade of federal experience in high-throughput laboratory management and analytical method development across clinical, environmental, and food safety applications.

Dr. Ulmer Holland formally served as Acting Chief of the Clinical Reference Laboratory for Cancer, Kidney, and Bone Disease Biomarkers at the CDC, where she led the development of mass spectrometric reference measurement procedures for endocrine and nutritional small molecule biomarkers. She also held a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship at NIST, where she developed multi-omic workflows and contributed to the first international lipidomics interlaboratory comparison study.

Her talents and contributions in the field of metabolomics, through her involvement in ASMS, ACS, mQACC, MetSoc, and other committees, have been recognized via the International Metabolomics Society President’s Award, the Metabolomics Society Early Career Travel Award, The Analytical Scientist’s 40 Under 40 Power List, The Analytical Scientist’s 2021 Top 100 Power List and the “Faces of Mass Spectrometry” June 2018 issue of JASMS. For MetSoc, she contributes to the DEI task group as well as the Membership, and Education & Training committees.

Statement of Purpose:

I have served as MetSoc Treasurer for the past three years. In this role, I’ve worked to maintain accurate financial records, ensure timely IRS and State of Massachusetts filings, and modernize our operations by transitioning financial documentation to a centralized digital system accessible to all Board members. This digital shift has improved transparency, continuity, and institutional memory.

Each year, I’ve overseen the tracking of the general Society income and expenses, supported the approval and renewal of contracts, coordinated payments to vendors and award recipients, and presented annual financial summaries to the Board and membership. I helped manage financial logistics for high-priority items such as legal reviews, data storage solutions, and conference media archiving. I also contributed to long-term financial planning through budget forecasting and strategic evaluation of cost drivers, including conference-related profits/losses and operational fees.

Beyond my Treasurer responsibilities, I actively contribute to the Membership Committee, Education & Training Committee, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Group. Through these roles, I have helped to ensure that our society’s initiatives, programs, and training opportunities continue to reflect the needs and make-up of our diverse membership. Historically, I aided in creating the demographic data membership questionnaire that was used to assess recruitment initiatives, the diversity of the membership composition, and member retention. Findings from this questionnaire supported the 2022 change in the membership fee structure.

If re-elected, I will continue to apply fiscal discipline, identify cost-saving opportunities, and explore additional revenue streams through enhanced sponsorship and educational programming.

Masanori Arita

National Institute of Genetics
Japan

Biography:

Masanori Arita (MA) began working in metabolomics around 2005, when the first meeting of the metabolomics society was held in Tsuruoka City, Japan, hosted by Masaru Tomita (Keio University). Following the meeting, the MassBank project was launched in Tsuruoka, where I contributed as both a programmer and an MS/MS fragmentation analyst. MassBank developed alongside the community, with its first publication in 2010.

In 2011, I began a formal collaboration with Prof. Oliver Fiehn (UC Davis) on algal biofuel, supported by JST and NSF. This project led to several key outcomes, including MassBank of North America (MoNA), the SPLASH identifier for mass spectra, and the MS-DIAL software. The project continued until March 2017.

During this period, I was appointed Professor at the National Institute of Genetics, Japan. In 2018, I became Head of the DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ), one of the three nodes in the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC). Since then, my primary focus had to shift to all omics. In 2019, the MassBank project was transferred to the Mass Spectrometry Society of Japan (MSSJ). Around the same time, I initiated MetaboBank, a public repository for raw metabolomics and lipidomics data, developed under the INSDC framework.

Statement of Purpose:

My primary focus is promoting open science and open data, in line with UNESCO’s recommendations. This goes beyond simply depositing data in a repository—it requires that data and knowledge be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), and also aligned with the CARE principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics).

Several working groups have made significant contributions by establishing impactful standards for data measurement and reporting. These efforts deserve greater visibility and broader integration across disciplines and national boundaries, ultimately evolving into international standards. I aim to strengthen connections between our society and other scientific communities and journals—for example, by promoting the adoption of minimum reporting guidelines in major academic publishers.

Additionally, we need to be aware of the importance of benefit-sharing from the utilization of genetic resources and their associated data, as emphasized in recent international agreements (CBD and BBNJ). The global framework for data sharing must shift from offering merely equal opportunities to enabling equitable access, ensuring that all participants—regardless of region—can benefit fairly.

Anne Bendt

Life Sciences Institute, National University Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING)
Singapore

Biography:

Trained as a microbiologist and biochemist, I have always worked at the intersection of research and applications. Over the past 21 years, I helped create SLING, the Singapore Lipidomics Incubator, a research program anchored at the National University of Singapore (NUS), serving as our Deputy Director.

As a Principal Investigator, I drive projects aimed at clinical translation and commercialization, primarily for lipid metabolites and increasingly for environmental toxins such as the ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS. I see method harmonization and ISO15189 compliancy as an enabler for this work, and actively engage in teaching, conference presentations and educational outreach activities to grow this field.

In line with my passion for clinical translation, I was recently offered a joint appointment with the Cardiovascular-Metabolic Disease Translational Research Program at the School of Medicine, NUS.

Internationally, I serve on the steering committee of ‘Clinical Lipidomics’ at International Lipidomics Society (ILS), and am an elected member of the ‘Metabolomics’ working group of the International Federation for Clinical Chemistry (IFCC). Having made Singapore my home, I am proud to be a new member of the ‘Asia Outreach Committee’ of Mass Spectrometry & Advances in the Clinical Lab (MSACL), helping with conferences in Asia.

As a competitive ocean paddler, I am a firm believer in the strength of diverse teams with complementary skill sets. The underrepresentation of women in STEM led me to co-found FeMS, the ‘Females in Mass Spec’ initiative, where I serve as Chair and created the ‘Out of the Shadows’ Leadership development program.

Statement of Purpose:

How do we increase our chances that all the efforts of hard working scientists (and last but not least the taxpayers’ money invested on research) end up being useful for society at large?

How do we translate research findings and lab methods into ‘real life’ applications, and ultimately benefit healthcare?

And all of this in an inclusive manner, across the globe and socioeconomic demographics?

Tackling these questions is my main driver, aiming for translation of lipidomics and metabolomics into clinical applications, by bridging the various communities active in this field.

Shall I get to serve on the Met Soc BOD, I’d offer myself as a liaison and connector between the various entities, international groups and stakeholders that need to start talking to each other to grow the community and make this translation happen.

Among the existing committees, I could help with Education (training courses, workshops, educational outreach) and with Conferences, tapping into my existing networks and committee work. I could also contribute to Awards and shine light on careers outside typical academia.

Task group-wise, I would continue to serve on LipidMet. In addition, I’d love to join Precision Meds, and share my ISO15189 experience.

My goal is to ‘translate’ between basic researchers, clinicians, industry, regulatory folks etc.

Is it time for a new committee in this field? I’d be keen to help shape this.

Kyo Bin Kang

Sookmyung Women’s University
Republic of Korea

Biography:

Kyo Bin Kang is an Associate Professor at the College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, Korea. Since establishing his lab in 2018, he has focused on applying computational mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to study specialized metabolites produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants. Trained as a natural product chemist, he completed his PhD at Seoul National University in 2016, concentrating on the purification and structural elucidation of phytochemicals. During his first postdoctoral research at the same institution, he developed a strong interest in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics as a powerful tool in natural product discovery. To deepen his expertise, he joined the Dorrestein Lab at UC San Diego for his second postdoctoral training, where he became a devoted proponent of computational mass spectrometry and open science.

His lab now investigates not only the discovery of novel or bioactive compounds, but also the ecological and biochemical logic behind the chemical diversity of natural products—how and why they are biosynthesized, and how organisms biotransform and detoxify foreign molecules. Metabolomics is central to generating hypotheses across all these research directions.

Kyo Bin is also actively engaged in infrastructure development for the Korea MetAbolomics data repository (KMAP), striving to align it with the FAIR principles and harmonize it with other global repositories.

Statement of Purpose:

I am honored to be nominated for a position on the Metabolomics Society’s Board of Directors. I have served on the scientific committee for Metabolomics 2024 (Osaka) and 2025 (Prague), and through these roles, I witnessed firsthand the vibrant enthusiasm of our community, especially among early-career researchers. One of the aspects I value most about the Metabolomics Society is its strong support for early-career members. I was fortunate to serve as a discussion leader for the EMN Career Night in 2024 and as a speaker in the EMN webinar series in March 2025. These experiences deepened my appreciation for the Society’s dedication to mentoring the next generation. If elected, I will work to strengthen initiatives that support training, networking, and visibility for early-career scientists.

I strongly support the Society’s recent bylaw changes aimed at improving geographical representation on the Board. As a member based in Asia, I welcome this initiative. The metabolomics community in Asia is growing rapidly, and inclusive leadership is essential to sustaining our field’s global progress. I have represented the Korea Metabolomics Society in the Society’s Affiliates Task Group and actively promoted international collaboration. If elected, I will continue to encourage broader participation from Korea and other parts of Asia.

Lastly, I am committed to advancing open science in metabolomics, particularly through efforts to improve data sharing and reuse. Promoting FAIR principles is a collective endeavor, and I believe the Society can play a central role in helping our community move in this direction.

Philip Britz-McKibbin

McMaster University
Canada

Biography:

Philip Britz-McKibbin is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. Dr. Britz-McKibbin obtained his BSc in Chemistry (U. Toronto, 1994), and PhD in Analytical Chemistry (UBC, 2000) and a Japan Society for Promotion of Science PDF position in Japan (Hyogo University, 2001-2003) prior to starting his academic position at McMaster. Dr. Britz-Mckibbin is currently a visiting professor at the Institute of Advanced Biosciences at Keio University in Tsuruoka, Japan. His research group is an affiliate member of The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC) – Canada’s national metabolomics laboratory. His laboratory focuses on the development of high-throughput methodologies based on multiplexed capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry technology as applied to large-scale epidemiological studies. His work also aims to discover new clinical biomarkers that support early detection of inherited metabolic disorders and chronic human diseases ranging from cystic fibrosis to inflammatory bowel disease with emphasis on exploring the early developmental origins of health and disease. His research interests also include exposomic studies with a focus on validating robust dietary biomarkers of food intake and assessing tobacco smoke exposures as modifiable risk factors in support of global health. Dr. Britz-Mckibbin also served as a co-chair of the 2023 Metabolomics Society conference that was held in Niagara Falls, Canada. He is a recipient of the 2025 Thyroid Foundation of Canada Researcher Award, a 2023 WAE McBryde Medal in Analytical Chemistry by the Canadian Society for Chemistry, and is a former Cystic Fibrosis Canada Researcher (2017-2022).

Statement of Purpose:

If elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Metabolomics Society, I would be interested in serving on task groups and committee groups to better promote reproducible metabolomics science to the international community that reflect both my personal interests and past experience. As a former conference co-chair, I would be thrilled to serve on the Conference Committee to continue to ensure high-quality scientific sessions that are engaging and representative, including interactive experiences for early career researchers. Similarly, I would be pleased to also contribute to the Publication Committee and the MetFair task group to formulate best practices for data transparency and rigorous scientific reporting that addresses a reproducibility crisis in metabolomics. Lastly, I also have a strong interest in contributing to the Metabolomics Identification task group as unknown compound characterization remains one of the most significant barriers to biomarker discovery when performing untargeted metabolite profiling in complex samples.

Mónica Cala

Universidad de los Andes
Columbia

Biography:

Dr. Mónica Cala is the Head of MetCore, the first Metabolomics Core Facility in Colombia, based at Universidad de los Andes, and a founding member of the Latin American Metabolic Profiling Society (LAMPS). She has over 15 years of experience in bioanalytical applications, with a strong background in developing and validating analytical methods using separation techniques and spectrometric analysis.

Since 2012, her work has focused on applying high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and lipidomics to a range of research areas, including biomedicine, plant science, and food analysis. In 2019, she established MetCore under the Vice Presidency for Research at Uniandes, marking a milestone as the first Metabolomics Center in the country. Since then, she has played an active role in raising awareness and advancing metabolomics research in Colombia and across Latin America.

In 2023, she received the President’s Award from the International Metabolomics Society. In 2024, Dr. Cala was recognized as one of 18 featured scientists in C&EN Trailblazers, which highlights Latin American chemists making a significant impact in the region, selected from 150 nominated profiles submitted by readers.

At MetCore, Dr. Cala leads research projects using both non-targeted and targeted metabolomics approaches in fields such as biomedicine, bioprospecting, and food science. The facility is committed to providing access to cutting-edge mass spectrometry platforms, including GC-MS, CE-MS, and UHPLC-MS, and to promoting innovative, multidisciplinary research and services in Colombia and throughout Latin America.

Statement of Purpose:

If elected, I would be honored to contribute to the Conference and International Affiliates Committees and to continue building stronger connections between Latin America and the global metabolomics community. With the 2026 Metabolomics Society Congress taking place in Latin America for the first time,and as a co-chair of this event,I feel especially motivated to help increase the participation of researchers from our region. I would also like to support greater involvement of young Latin American scientists in the Early-career Members Network (EMN), and help strengthen the visibility and engagement of our community in global metabolomics initiatives.

Since founding MetCore, I have been committed to promoting metabolomics in Colombia and across Latin America. Through MetCore’s training activities, I have helped connect students and researchers from several Latin American countries, including those with limited previous participation in the Latin American Metabolic Profiling Society (LAMPS), such as Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico. As a founding member of LAMPS, I supported the integration of our network into the Metabolomics Society’s International Affiliates. In 2022, I organized the IV LAMPS Meeting in Cartagena, Colombia, which brought together over 100 participants and helped strengthen regional ties.

I look forward to contributing to the Society’s mission and to amplifying the voices, talent, and ideas from Latin America within the global metabolomics community.

Alex Dickens

University of Turuku
Finland

Biography:

Alex Dickens is a Finnish Academy Fellow and leads the Neurometabolomics Group at the Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku. He also heads the Turku Centre for Chemical and Molecular Analytics (CCMA) within the Department of Chemistry, and is Co-Principal Investigator and co-founder of the Turku Metabolomics Centre, alongside Matej Orešič.

He earned his DPhil from the University of Oxford in 2013, where he applied NMR-based metabolomics to predict various brain diseases from blood samples. Following this, he undertook two postdoctoral research positions: first at the Turku PET Centre, investigating novel tracers for neuroinflammation; and subsequently at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he discovered a new mechanism by which the brain communicates with the periphery via extracellular vesicles. During this time, he also developed new mass spectrometry (MS)-based lipidomic methods.

He later joined the Orešič group in Turku as a postdoctoral researcher and senior scientist. Alex currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Nordic Metabolomics Society.

His research group focuses on developing advanced MS-based methods to detect a broad spectrum of metabolites, applying these techniques to study metabolic changes following brain injury or during brain development. This includes integrating traditional MS-based imaging with other modalities such as MS imaging and PET imaging, to spatially contextualise metabolic changes in the brain. A particular focus of the group is on the role of the endocannabinoid system as a long-range signalling mechanism between the brain and the periphery.

Statement of Purpose:

If elected as a Director of the Metabolomics Society, I would work diligently to support the Society’s continued success and bring fresh ideas to the board. A key priority would be strengthening the integration of lipidomics within the broader metabolomics community. As an active member of the Lipidomics Task Group since its inception, I am well-positioned to contribute to the alignment of reporting standards across metabolomics disciplines.

Having seen the benefits from the Nordic Metabolomics Society of being an affiliate member I would wish to further strengthen the entire affiliate network and encourage other regional societies to sign up. The future plans for the affiliate network to provide opportunities for younger career researchers to move around different regions to gain experience are a real opportunity to expand the reach of metabolomics and I would keep driving this critical initiative forward.

My expertise lies in applying MS-based metabolomics to large human cohorts and developing high-throughput analytical methods. Our lab has recently gained experience in MS imaging, a rapidly growing area in metabolomics, and I would bring this knowledge to the board to support workshops and community engagement.

Additionally, I am keen to contribute to the Society’s website, communications, and publication committees. These platforms are essential for member engagement, and with the launch of the new journal, it is critical to ensure members are aware of publishing opportunities and Society updates.

Art Edison

University of Georgia
USA

Biography:

Art Edison is a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Georgia. He is also a member of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and Institute of Bioinformatics at UGA. His undergraduate degree in Chemistry was from the University of Utah where he used NMR to characterize monoterpenes from sagebrush. He received his Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he developed and applied NMR experimental and theoretical methods for protein and peptide structural studies. He was a Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral fellow at UW-Madison and studied neuropeptides in the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. He joined the faculty at the University of Florida and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in 1996. He was the founding PI and Director of the NIH-funded Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics. In 2015, Edison moved to the University of Georgia where he directs the CCRC NMR facility, which supports research in both metabolomics and structural biology. Edison’s research group collaborates on several metabolomics projects ranging from microbes to humans. Edison and colleagues at the University of Connecticut and the University of Wisconsin-Madison established the NSF-funded Network for Advanced NMR (NAN) to improve access to NMR resources for non-NMR experts. NAN includes two ultra-high field 1.1 GHz NMR instruments at both UGA and UW-Madison and networked data portal and infrastructure through UConn. He has organized several metabolomics workshops, both in-person and virtually, through NAN and other NSF- and NIH-funded projects.

Statement of Purpose:

For me, the most interesting aspect of metabolomics is the range and diversity of disciplines that are required to make it work: biology, medicine, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, and more. This poses challenges for all of us to understand various aspects of metabolomics, but it also provides a rich source of inspiration and creativity to those who make the effort to discover new areas outside of our own specific training. I love teaching, mentoring, and learning new things. As a board member, I would enjoy being involved with various aspects of teaching and mentoring early career researchers. Over the years I have run many workshops on metabolomics and NMR, both in person and virtually. I also organized a virtual metabolomics journal club for the Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA) during COVID; this journal club facilitated connections during those challenging times. I’m open to new ideas and would like to work with others on projects that create community and help teach the next generation of metabolomics scientists. My own specialty is NMR spectroscopy, and I am always seeking ways to demystify this powerful analytical tool so that it is easier to use by non-NMR experts.

In addition to the breadth of disciplines in metabolomics, we need to continue to promote and celebrate diversity in metabolomics scientists. People with diverse backgrounds, education, and life history enhance interdisciplinary fields like metabolomics. As a board member, I would be interested in working with others to help increase the diversity of metabolomics scientists.

Tim Garrett

University of Florida
USA

Biography:

Dr. Garrett is an Associate Professor and Chief of Experimental Pathology in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at The University of Florida. In addition to his role as chief, Dr. Garrett has served as PI or Co-PI on grants and contracts totaling over $39M of funding from institutions such as the NIH, JDRF and the ADA. As an associate professor, Dr. Garrett has supervised the research of 18 graduate students and 3 post-doctoral students during the past 15 years, and received the term professorship in 2018, an exemplary teacher award in 2019 and 2024, and the IFAS high impact publication in 2016. Research in the group has led to over 120 peer-reviewed publications with an h-index of 46 and an i10-index of 138. His publications have resulted in over 7000 citations and he has given over 100 lectures in 6 different countries related to his research.

Dr. Garrett received his Bachelor’s from the University of Georgia in Chemistry and his PHD in Chemistry from the University of Florida. He joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 2006, where he has developed a research program in metabolomics, lipidomics, and small molecule quantitation for clinical and biological translational research using mass spectrometry. His lab has also developed key bioinformatics methods such as iterative exclusion MS2 and LipidMatch. He is also currently Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Advances in the Clinical lab.

Statement of Purpose:

I am passionate about metabolomics science and I am excited to serve on the Board of Directors for the Metabolomics Society. I bring over a decade of leadership and expertise in metabolomics research. As the director of a metabolomics research laboratory for more than 10 years, I have driven innovative studies that advance our understanding of metabolic processes, fostering collaborations and mentoring the next generation of scientists. My work has consistently aimed to elevate the field through rigorous science and community engagement. For three years, I served as a board member for the Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA), where I contributed to strategic initiatives that strengthened the organization’s mission and expanded its reach. A key accomplishment was organizing the highly successful 2024 MANA conference, which brought together global leaders to share cutting-edge research and foster interdisciplinary partnerships. This experience honed my ability to lead impactful events that advance the metabolomics community. Additionally, I submitted a proposal to host the Metabolomics Society Meeting, demonstrating my commitment to creating platforms for knowledge exchange and collaboration. My vision for the Society includes enhancing global outreach, promoting diversity in membership, and supporting early-career researchers through mentorship and accessible resources. As a Board member, I will leverage my leadership experience, organizational skills, and passion for metabolomics to advance the Society’s goals. I am dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity to ensure the continued growth and impact of the metabolomics field.

Nicola Gray

Murdoch University
Australia

Biography:

Dr Nicola Gray is a Senior Lecturer in Phenomics at Murdoch University and a leading researcher at the Australian National Phenome Centre. With a PhD in analytical chemistry from King’s College London, her career spans academia, industry, and clinical research, unified by a commitment to advancing metabolic phenotyping for translational health impact. Her research program integrates cutting-edge LC-MS technologies to explore the biochemical interplay between genetics, environment, and lifestyle, with applications in cardiometabolic disease, maternal and women’s health, infectious disease, and environmental exposures. She has secured >AU$3 million in research funding and published 57 peer-reviewed articles, with an h-index of 23.

Nicola is deeply engaged in scientific leadership and community building. She serves as Vice-President of the Australia and New Zealand Metabolomics Society, chairs the Females in Mass Spectrometry (FeMS+) Fundraising Committee and the Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance (WACRA) Early and Mid-Career Representatives (EMCR) Committee where she sits on the WACRA Board of Directors. Her contributions to the Metabolomics Society include past service on the Early-career Members Network and participation in the international affiliates committee of the Metabolomics Society. Nicola has experience in international conference organisation, training events and workshops and as a session chair. She has supervised numerous postgraduate students and is committed to mentoring the next generation of metabolomics researchers.

Nicola’s contributions have been recognised with multiple awards, including the WACRA Research Leadership Award 2024, Murdoch University’s Vice Chancellor’s Excellence in Early Career Research Award 2023 and an ACS Rising Star in Proteomics and Metabolomics Award 2021.

Statement of Purpose:

My experience across sectors and continents positions me to contribute meaningfully to the strategic direction of the Metabolomics Society and to champion global standards, diversity, and innovation in the field.

As Vice-President of the Australian and New Zealand Metabolomics Society and former Western Australian Representative, and Chair of the WACRA EMCR Committee, I have actively shaped regional initiatives and built collaborative networks. My leadership extends to education and mentorship, where I champion the next generation of scientists through student supervision, outreach programs, and advocacy for women in STEM. I currently serve as Chair of the FeMS+ Fundraising Committee and as a mentor in their formal mentorship program.

Internationally, I contribute to the metabolomics community through roles on the Phenomics Youth Editorial Board and the Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality Control Consortium (mQACC). I am eager to deepen my involvement in global efforts to promote rigorous standards and inclusive growth in the field.

My experience in organising scientific events includes leading professional development workshops, hands-on training courses, and conferences such as the 25th International Mass Spectrometry Conference (IMSC), the inaugural AUS-oMicS 2025 multi-omics conference, the Australian Lipid Meeting 5 (ALM5), and UK-based forums including the Reid Bioanalytical Forum and London Metabolomics Network Meetings.

If nominated as a Board Member, I would be particularly enthusiastic to contribute to:
• Establishing a global mentorship program for early- and mid-career researchers
• Enhancing international collaboration and training through the affiliates network
• Supporting the Society’s efforts to harmonize metabolomics standards worldwide

Steven Gross

Weill Cornell Medicine
USA

Biography:

I’m a tenured Professor of Pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC). In 1997, I founded WCMC’s Mass Spectrometry Core Facility and, since that time, I’ve organized/chaired numerous scientific meetings on metabolomics-related topics, including the 2023 Gordon Research Conference on Metabolomics and Human Health and the past twelve annual Mitochondrial Metabolomics and Cancer Metabolomics and Cell Signaling meetings presented by the NY Academy of Sciences. Research during the past three-plus decades has focused on redox metabolism, oxidative stress and cell signaling. I have a long-standing interest in reactive molecule chemistry, and my lab has established novel analytical tools for small molecule MS, untargeted metabolomic profiling and imaging MS. Prior work on reactive molecule metabolism culminated in >200 published papers, 25 issued US patents, and founding a biotech start-up that advanced multinational phase III clinical studies to test the therapeutic efficacy of a NO synthase inhibitor for a life-saving cardiovascular indication. With Nobel Laureates in the field, I contributed to founding the NO Society and organized over a dozen national and international meetings on NO chemistry and biology. Studies of NO signaling led to an interest in biological MS and my establishment of MCMC’s MS core. Consequently, I acquired instrumentation, experience and know-how for the development and application of bioanalytical techniques for protein and small molecule analyses. I was recognized in 2011 by the American Chemical Society for Achievements in Mass Spectrometry and my lab was designated a Center of Excellence in Life Science Mass Spectrometry by Agilent Technologies in 2015.

Statement of Purpose:

With Metabolomics Society voter’s permission, I’m enthusiastic to contribute my time and experience in service of the Society as a new Board Director. In accord with my labs interest and contributions in the area of personalized medicine, my major goal as Board Member would be to contribute to the advancement of personalized medicine/disease subtyping for application into the clinic. Further, I would like assist in the lifting of current FDA barriers to untargeted plasma profiling of newborns as a screening tool to allow for early recognition of potential life-threatening inborn errors of metabolism. These goals may best be achieved by contributions made to the Society’s “Website and Communications Committee”. Finally, as an experienced organizer of impactful scientific meetings, I hope to contribute to the Metabolomics Society’s “Conference Committee” in continuance of the Society’s track-record for outstanding scientific sessions held at engaging international venues.

Anna Halama

Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar
Qatar

Biography:

Anna (Ania) Halama, is an Assistant Professor of Research in Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, where she leads a laboratory dedicated to cancer metabolomics. Her research combines in vitro and clinical studies, with a focus on breast and lung cancers, to identify metabolic vulnerabilities, drug resistance mechanisms, and biomarkers that can inform precision oncology. She applies integrative metabolomics and multiomics approaches, emphasizing the implementation of these tools in well-designed clinical cohorts. Medical students are actively involved in her projects, gaining first-hand experience in the application of metabolomics to cancer research.

Ania earned her PhD from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, for work on metabolic switches in apoptosis and adipogenesis. She completed her postdoctoral training in Prof. Karsten Suhre’s laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, where she focused on interpreting complex metabolomics datasets to assess the biological significance of observed changes. Together with Prof. Suhre, she contributed to “A Roadmap to the Molecular Human” project and the COmics server (http://comics.metabolomix.com), enabling the scientific community to explore relationships between thousands of multiomics traits and disease endpoints. Ania also contributed to the establishment of a metabolomics platform in Qatar.

Her work is supported by competitive grants from the Qatar National Research Fund, through which she is developing cancer-focused metabolomics capacity and fostering collaborations across the Middle East. She participates regularly in the Metabolomics Society’s international conferences and contributes to advancing metabolomics in both research and education.

Statement of Purpose:

Over the past decade, the Metabolomics Society has played an important role in advancing technology, improving measurement precision, and enhancing data analysis within the field. In my view, the next step is to focus on translating metabolomics into clinical practice.

As a cancer metabolomics researcher, I conduct in vitro and clinical studies in breast and lung cancers, aiming to identify workflows suitable for healthcare settings.

If elected to the Board, I will:

Work towards establishing a Metabolomics in Clinical Decision-Making initiative, potentially under the Precision Medicine and Pharmacometabolomics Task Group, to foster dialogue between clinicians and researchers, share case-based applications, and align research outputs with clinical needs.
Build on my experience in leading medical student research training at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar to pilot a dedicated workshop for medical students on metabolomics applications in patient care, under the Education & Training Committee.
Strengthen the representation of the Middle East in Society activities by promoting active participation, building regional collaborations, and ensuring its distinct research and clinical context is reflected within the broader Asia region.

My personal motivation is to make metabolomics more clinically relevant by creating pathways where the technology advances in the lab, reaches the clinic, impacts patient care, and inspires the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

Heino Heyman

Metabolon Inc.
USA

Biography:

Dr. Heino Heyman is a metabolomics expert with significant global perspective. Originally from South Africa and now based in the United States, Dr. Heyman earned his Ph.D. in Medicinal Plant Science from the University of Pretoria, during which he conducted research stints in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Japan. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Johannesburg and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he received advanced training in ion-mobility mass spectrometry and integrative omics.

Dr. Heyman is Director of Global Field Metabolomics Sciences at Metabolon (since 2024), leading an international team to translate metabolomic data into actionable insights for pharmaceutical development, population health studies, and clinical research. Previously, he advanced ion‐mobility mass spectrometry applications as a Metabolomics Applications Specialist at Bruker Scientific. He began his career in 2010, establishing an early metabolomics workflows for natural‐product discovery and crop resilience in South Africa.

His expertise spans human, microbial, plant, and soil metabolomics, with a focus on analytical robustness, reproducibility, and translational impact. He has co‐authored over 40 peer‐reviewed publications and advised hundreds of academic and industry studies worldwide. Dr. Heyman contributed to the development of South Africa’s first metabolomics platforms and continues to support international training programs and collaborative networks that drive methodological innovation and global partnership in metabolomics.

Statement of Purpose:

Metabolomics is entering its application era, where molecular readouts are and will continue to routinely inform clinical decisions, wellness strategies, and exposure-risk assessments. Having helped build South Africa’s first metabolomics platform and now directing global field sciences at Metabolon, I have bridged emerging and mature ecosystems.

My overarching aim as a Director will be to support the Society as it continues to steer this transition with scientific rigor, inclusivity, and translational impact. I will advocate for robust yet accessible frameworks that convert metabolite signatures into actionable health insights while upholding the analytical fidelity expected by an academic community. Years of collaboration with hospital consortia, public-health agencies, and biopharma teams have taught me how to translate complex spectra into patient-centric knowledge without compromising methodological transparency.

Where the Society’s task groups convene; precision medicine, metabolite identification, data standards, or industry engagement, I can contribute as needed: articulating clinical use cases, harmonizing quality metrics across platforms, or forging pre-competitive partnerships that accelerate tool development. My experience in both grant-funded research and commercial deployment positions me to mediate priorities and build durable bridges between academia and applied sectors.

Finally, I will champion global collaboration, strengthening U.S. participation while elevating voices from under-resourced regions, so metabolomics’ coming of age benefits reinforces the Society’s leadership in shaping this pivotal discipline.

Drew Jones

NYU Langone Health
USA

Biography:

Drew R. Jones, PhD, is the founding Director of the NYU Metabolomics Core Resource Laboratory and an Assistant Professor at New York University Langone Health. Since launching the Core in 2017, he has overseen more than 2,000 projects spanning cancer biology, infectious disease, neuroscience, and environmental health. His collaborative efforts have contributed to diverse high-impact discoveries, including solving the long-missing intermediates of mammalian Coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis, characterizing the metabolomes of understudied organisms and orphan disease such as lymphatic filariasis, validating the first engineered mammalian biosynthesis of the essential amino acid valine, and other related topics. The theme of Dr. Jones’ research is pairing advanced LC–MS methods with novel and rigorous mass-informatics capabilities to deliver reproducible and high-confidence metabolomics results. Dr. Jones work emphasizes improving data quality, reproducibility, and accessibility, enabling researchers across disciplines to integrate metabolomics into their own studies. Before joining NYU, Dr. Jones completed postdoctoral research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he advanced global metabolomics technologies and computational workflows with the JUMPm pipeline, and also introduced the first false-discovery control approach for metabolite identification using decoy chemical formulas. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where his work on warfarin metabolism led to a patented chromatographic technology and the discovery of a novel feedback inhibition mechanism affecting patient drug response. He holds a BA in Biochemistry from Hendrix College.

Statement of Purpose:

As a candidate for the Metabolomics Society Board of Directors, I will promote best practices that strengthen reproducibility, transparency, and robust data provenance. Drawing on my experience directing a high-volume, interdisciplinary metabolomics core, I will advocate for community-driven resources that help members advance their research and amplify the impact of metabolomics discoveries. I have a strong record in mentoring and training, having organized national symposia and workshops through the NCI’s Informatics Technology for Cancer Research program. I am committed to contributing to Society governance, including strategic planning, conference organization, and fostering collaborations that broaden our community and sustain the Society’s leadership in metabolomics.

Sakda Khoomrung

Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Thailand

Biography:

Dr. Sakda Khoomrung is the Founding Secretary of the Thailand Metabolomics Association and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. He leads the Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Metabolomics and Systems Biology, where his team combines cutting-edge mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, and bioinformatics to tackle complex questions in human health, aging, and natural product research.

Originally from Chumphon, Thailand, Dr. Khoomrung earned his MSc in Analytical Chemistry from Prince of Songkla University and his PhD in Chemistry from Karl-Franzens University, Austria. He then moved to Sweden, where he co-founded the Chalmers Metabolomics Centre and developed international metabolomics services before returning to Thailand to build capacity in the field.

With over 50 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 21, his research spans biomarker discovery in chronic kidney disease and cancer, gut microbiome–metabolite interactions, and the biosynthesis of medicinal plant compounds. He has secured numerous competitive grants and collaborates extensively across academia, industry, and government.

Beyond research, Dr. Khoomrung is passionate about training the next generation of scientists, organizing the annual Thailand Metabolomics Conference, and creating opportunities for early-career researchers. He serves as Associate Editor for the Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal and reviews for leading journals in the field.

His vision is to help shape a truly global, inclusive metabolomics community—one that connects diverse expertise, shares resources openly, and translates discoveries into meaningful benefits for health, agriculture, and the environment.

Statement of Purpose:

As the Founding Secretary of the Thailand Metabolomics Association (TMA), I have dedicated my career to building a strong metabolomics community in Southeast Asia—one that is connected, collaborative, and capable of contributing to the global stage. I believe the Metabolomics Society plays a pivotal role in advancing our science, and I want to help expand its reach so that researchers everywhere have equitable access to tools, training, and opportunities.

Through TMA, I have brought together researchers, industry, and government partners to advance metabolomics applications in health, agriculture, and natural products. I have led initiatives such as the Thailand Metabolomics Conference, which connects regional scientists with international leaders, fostering knowledge exchange and long-term collaborations.

If elected to the Board, I will focus on:

Expanding global engagement by increasing the Society’s presence in underrepresented regions.
Strengthening industry–academic partnerships to drive innovation and technology transfer.
Empowering early-career researchers through mentorship, mobility fellowships, and skills training.
Promoting diversity and inclusion so all communities can benefit from metabolomics advancements.

Metabolomics is entering an exciting new era of technological breakthroughs and multi-omics integration. My vision is for the Society to remain a leader in scientific excellence while becoming an even stronger catalyst for inclusive global growth. I would be honored to contribute my experience, network, and passion to help achieve that vision.

Dr. Sakda Khoomrung
Founding Secretary, Thailand Metabolomics Association

Stephan Klatt

BASF Metabolome Solutions GmbH
Germany

Biography:

Dr. Stephan Klatt is a biochemist with over 12 years of specialized expertise in metabolomics, lipidomics, and mass spectrometry. He obtained his PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin/Germany, where he focused on the eukaryotic protein expression system of Leishmania tarentolae. During his doctoral research, he conducted analyses on recombinant proteins, antibodies, and glycan patterns using LC-MS, which ignited his enthusiasm for mass spectrometry technologies.

Following his PhD, Stephan relocated to Melbourne/Australia and undertook a project at The Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology. Here, his work concentrated on the structural elucidation of cell walls in corynebacteria and mycobacteria. He developed innovative GC-MS and LC-MS methodologies and established a comprehensive bacterial lipid library consisting of over 90,000 in-silico lipid species, facilitating high-throughput knockout screens.

In his subsequent role at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, he investigated metabolite and lipid profiles in patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, focusing on brain and blood samples to identify potential biomarkers. He further optimized several LC-MS methods, enhancing his expertise.

In early 2021, Stephan returned to Germany to lead the Metabolomics Core Facility at the Institute for Vascular Signaling, University Clinic of Frankfurt am Main. He managed a diverse team and oversaw a lab equipped with various mass spectrometers, emphasizing cardiovascular disease research. In 2024, he joined BASF Metabolome Solutions GmbH in Berlin as head of the Metabolomics lab, focusing on R&D and metabolite annotation.

He is a member of DGMet, DGMS, and the Metabolomics Society.

Statement of Purpose:

The metabolomics community faces challenges in producing comparable and reproducible results, which are often also not compliant with FAIR principles. Some contributing factors include challenges in experimental design, variability in quality control measures, limited sample sizes, and a need for improved standardization. However, compliance with high standards is essential for maintaining biomarker integrity and the reliability of research findings. This is not only important for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry or the clinical sector, independent of GLP or Non-GLP regulations, but also for academia.

If I am elected, I will actively advocate for process and sample standardization and compliance with high standards. Carefully designed projects with a focus on high sample numbers are badly needed to boost the output of the metabolomics community and put more putative biomarkers out of the statistical noise. Additionally, I aim to increase the quality of scientific output while decreasing the costs of metabolomics in comparison to other OMICS technologies, making our field more competitive.

I bring both an academic and an industry perspective, which will enable me to bridge gaps and foster collaboration. I believe there are many metabolite and lipid biomarkers waiting to be discovered, and with the right strategies, we can advance the field significantly.

Ville Koistinen

University of Turku
Finland

Biography:

I am currently working as a researcher in Kati Hanhineva’s lab. I began my PhD research in metabolomics in 2014, focusing on phytochemicals and other bioactive compounds in whole grains and their fermented products. Since then, my research has expanded to include other plant foods, as well as animal and human studies, with the aim of better understanding how the diverse array of plant-based bioactive compounds can benefit human health.

I have also contributed to computational metabolomics through the development of the notame R package and a co-development project related to MS-DIAL. Within the Metabolomics Society, I currently co-chair the MetFAIR task group, which aims to improve the reporting of metabolite nomenclature. Additionally, I serve as a board member of the HEALTHGRAIN Forum, a European platform that brings together academia and industry to promote science-based knowledge of grains.

Although my career has been based in Finland, I have participated in several international mobilities through EU projects and collaborations, including stays in Lisbon and Tokyo. Looking ahead, I aim to continue researching bioactive compounds in neglected and emerging edible plants, such as Andean grains and traditional landrace cereals. I am also interested in developing large-scale characterisation methods for bioactive compounds across a wide range of edible plants.

Statement of Purpose:

Science is often dominated by highly developed countries, leaving many regions underrepresented. In the metabolomics research community, some effort has already been made to change this. If elected to the Board of Directors, I would advocate for greater visibility and support for metabolomics research (especially early-career) in developing areas such as Latin America, Africa, and South Asia. I also aim to represent my own geographical region – the Nordics and Baltics – within the Metabolomics Society, ensuring that our perspectives and contributions are included in the discussions.

Currently, I am active in the MetFAIR task group, which promotes harmonised metabolite nomenclature. I am also interested in contributing to initiatives that improve the overall reporting standards in metabolomics and enhance the development and accessibility of metabolomics databases.

During my research, I have noticed that there are often gaps between computational and experimental metabolomics, as well as other omics, which result from differences in the educational background, professional jargon, and ways of interpreting data. I believe the Society could be active in narrowing these gaps by promoting multidisciplinary activities to make it easier for scientists to work towards common goals during this era when metabolomics is increasingly integrated with other methodologies.

Julia Kuligowski

Health Research Institute La Fe
Spain

Biography:

Dr. Julia Kuligowski is an internationally recognized expert in metabolomics, with a focus on neonatal and nutrition research. At the Health Research Institute La Fe in Valencia, Spain, she leads a multidisciplinary team advancing clinical applications of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Her work explores early biomarkers for neonatal encephalopathy, the impact of maternal and donor human milk, and the characterization of extracellular vesicles. She also develops translational tools, including point-of-care sensors and rapid screening methods, bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical practice. As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Kuligowski supervises undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students and teaches regularly at the University of Valencia. She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and secured more than €2.7 million in competitive funding as principal investigator.

Dr. Kuligowski is a committed member of the metabolomics community, having served in the Early Career Members Network (EMN) from 2016–2018 (as secretary in the second term). She has been part of the International Organizing Committee of the Metabolomics Society annual meetings (2019, 2022, and 2025) and is currently a member of the Lipidomics Task Group. Dr. Kuligowski has been an active contributor to the Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Control Consortium (mQACC) since 2019, defining and promoting best practices through workshops and online forums. She co-authored the highly cited QA/QC guidelines (DOI: 10.1007/s11306-018-1367-3; Springer Award 2019), underscoring her commitment to robust, reproducible science.

Statement of Purpose:

I am honored to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors of the Metabolomics Society.

As a former member of the EMN, I initiated the travel bursary program and organized workshops on experimental design, promoting global mobility and development for young scientists. From 2021–2024, I also served as Short-Term Scientific Mission Coordinator for the EpiLipidNet COST Action, promoting research exchange across all career stages. Mentorship, interdisciplinary training, and fostering emerging talent will remain central to my efforts if elected.

I actively contribute to mQACC, organizing QA/QC workshops across Europe, the US, and Latin America, and continue to advocate for strong quality standards in both research and clinical metabolomics. I currently serve on the Lipidomics Task Group and have supported the Society through roles on the International Organizing Committees for the 2019, 2022, and 2025 conferences. I would be pleased to further contribute to conference planning and serve on scientific task groups.

Looking ahead, I aim to strengthen the Society’s presence in Southern Europe and specifically, in Spanish-speaking Latin America, where the society remains underrepresented. I am committed to bridging these communities to the Society and promoting its role as an inclusive, globally connected platform for innovation, education, and scientific excellence.

The Metabolomics Society has always felt like a welcoming and collaborative community. I would be proud to support its continued growth and help guide it through future challenges with dedication and commitment serving as part of the BoD.

Estelle Pujos-Guillot

INRAE
France

Biography:

Dr Estelle Pujos-Guillot, is a senior research scientist with 20 years’ experience in mass spectrometry and metabolism. After a PhD in analytical chemistry in 2004 (Lyon I University, France), she joined the Human Nutrition Unit (Clermont-Ferrand) of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment. She is the scientific director of the Platform for Metabolism Exploration, a mass spectrometry platform dedicated to metabolism studies, and one founding member of MetaboHUB, the national infrastructure in metabolomics and fluxomics.

Her research interests concern nutritional metabolomics and data mining. With her group, she contributes to the development of (1) mass spectrometry-based analytical methods and statistical tools for a better characterization of the first metabolic deviations associated with development of chronic metabolic diseases, (2) models and tools to increase knowledge extraction from high-throughput data. She has been involved, as principal investigator or partner, in several national and international projects focused on the integration of metabolomics in systems nutrition/medicine and the study of several diseases including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer, and frailty. Since 2020, she is leading the WP dedicated to scaling-up metabolomics for large cohorts within MetaboHUB. She has been member in several scientific societies’ boards of directors, as the French Mass Spectrometry Society (2010-13), the French-speaking Metabolomics and Fluxomics Network (2008-16, honorary member since 2024), member of the management committee of the Open Multiscale Systems Medicine COST project (2017-20), and of the scientific committee of the INRAE human nutrition department (2020-24). She is also member of the mQACC Consortium since 2023.

Statement of Purpose:

Metabolomics has been central in my research. My interest in studying metabolism evolved from setting up dedicated analytical methods and data treatment workflows to the integration of metabolomics in systems nutrition/medicine. Over the past 20 years at INRAE (France), my group has developed metabolomics-based approaches to investigate the first metabolic deviations associated with development of chronic diseases, and study the nutrition-health interactions, particularly in epidemiology.

Today, I will be very happy to serve on the Metabolomics Society Board of Directors. As leading a multi-disciplinary group and convinced about the interest and the need of cross-disciplinarity, my first goal will be to continue to promote metabolomics research among different scientific communities (mass spectrometry, statistics, epidemiology, nutrition and systems medicine). I am excited to contribute to the Metabolomics Society efforts to foster interactions that span disciplines and generations, to promote careers of young scientists and accelerate the metabolomics development in emerging countries. Because data sharing is key to advance all science, I would also like to be very active in the improvement of data reproducibility, both at the level of data production and data science.

Finally, I think that I can bring my experience of being member of boards of different national scientific societies to be proactive for the organization of events, the ‘daily’ life of the Metabolomics Society, or its evolution in the future.

Thusitha Rupasinghe

SCIEX
Australia

Biography:

I am a Senior Field Application Specialist at SCIEX, supporting metabolomics and lipidomics applications across the KOSEA region. In this role, I provide expert scientific guidance and technical support to researchers, enabling high-impact outcomes in complex omics studies.

Prior to joining SCIEX, I was a Senior Research Fellow at Metabolomics Australia, University of Melbourne, where she played a pivotal role in establishing an advanced LC-MS-based lipidomics platform. My work has significantly contributed to collaborative research efforts across the region. I have been instrumental in developing and optimizing analytical methodologies for both metabolomics and lipidomics, resulting in over 100 peer-reviewed publications, an h-index of 36, and more than 4,000 citations.

Earlier in my career, I served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Monash University, where I developed LC-MS methods for analyzing drug metabolites in biological fluids. I completed my PhD in Analytical Chemistry from La Trobe University in 2003 and holds an MSc in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

I am a founding member of the Australian Lipid Meeting (ALM) and the Australia New Zealand Metabolomics Network (ANZMN). I have actively contributed to organizing numerous national and international conferences in the field. A passionate advocate for equity in science, I have served as a leader for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at SCIEX KOSEA and is an active member of Females in Mass Spectrometry (FeMS), where I also co-chaired the FeMS Awards Committee and a member of the mentoring group.

Statement of Purpose:

I am a passionate researcher with extensive experience across both academia and industry, and an active contributor to the global metabolomics community. I am deeply committed to training and mentoring the next generation of researchers in metabolomics, and I believe in the power of collaboration to drive innovation and discovery.

If elected to the Board of Directors of the Metabolomics Society, I will leverage my strong industry connections to enhance engagement between academia and industry. I aim to increase support for researchers through expanded sponsorships, travel grants, and award opportunities, enabling broader participation in conferences and fostering new avenues for collaboration and networking.

Over the past 15 years, I have played a key role in organizing numerous successful international conferences. I bring a wealth of experience in event planning and am eager to contribute as an active and dedicated committee member to ensure the continued success of Society events.

As a long-standing advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), I am committed to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within the metabolomics community. I will bring strong leadership to DE&I initiatives, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

With my global network, deep expertise, and unwavering enthusiasm, I will work to expand the Society’s reach and impact—attracting new members, supporting early-career researchers, and strengthening our community. If elected, I will bring fresh energy, strategic insight, and a collaborative spirit to the role, working tirelessly to advance the mission of the Metabolomics Society.

Christoph Trautwein

Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
Germany

Biography:

Dr. Christoph Trautwein is leading the Core Facility Metabolomics at the Medical Faculty University of Tübingen, Germany and independent research group leader for Metabolomics & Systems Medicine at the M3 Research Center and Werner Siemens Imaging Center. Christoph was first trained in environmental analytical chemistry at the University of Stuttgart, Germany where he graduated in 2012. He then pursued his PhD at the University Hospital Freiburg, Southern Germany, focusing on mass spectrometry-based analysis of drug transformation products and getting for the first time in touch with metabolomics in 2015. After a second academic career in Molecular Medicine, he specialized further in high-field NMR spectroscopy at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany. He joined Tübingen in 2017 and since then shaped the metabolomics landscape at the Medical Faculty. In his labs Christoph applies high-field and benchtop NMR spectroscopy, trapped ion mobility spectrometry time of flight (timsTOF) LC-MS and high-resolution MALDI Imaging based metabolomics and lipidomics. His personal research interests are cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation, microbiome research and quantitative precision diagnostics. In here, he currently explores the potential of quantitative metabolomics for novel biomarker panels, the combination of both NMR and LC-MS for de-novo structure elucidation in microbiome research, and finally new computational approaches for comprehensive metadata and high-throughput analysis.

Statement of Purpose:

I always was fascinated how new analytical technologies are drivers of innovation. Starting from an environmental point of perspective, I became interested in medical research and how we could use ion trap MS for structure elucidation of drug metabolites. By that time in 2012 there was hardly any access to high-resolution MS and a logical step for me was to learn NMR – still gold standard for primary structure elucidation. Looking at recent developments, I am convinced that the research field of metabolomics is just about to really start through, thanks to the multi-modal application of state-of-the-art techniques.

If I should get elected, I would like to work on the opportunities but also challenges within multi-modal metabolomics, with strong emphasis on absolute quantitation and both preanalytical and analytical harmonization. This especially relates to the analysis of human samples such as biofluids and tissue, which are known to be challenging. With my strong background in NMR, I want to represent all NMR users of the Society and explore the potential of recent advances in two-dimensional and heteronuclear NMR. I further want to establish MALDI Imaging networks, pushing the limits of single cell metabolomics. Besides these complex topics, I want to establish working groups dealing with benchtop translation, making metabolomics accessible to a wider range of users, including point-of care diagnostics. Finally, beyond technology, I want to advocate for a better standing of our research field in academia, since at the end of the day everyone should know that metabolomics is not service, but science.