Principal Investigator

Dr. Tao Huan

Associate Professor in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry at the University of British Columbia and Canada Research Chair in Metabolomics and Exposomics.

Analytical Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Metabolomics Exposomics AI for Omics
Dr. Tao Huan
Dr. Tao Huan Associate Professor, UBC Chemistry
Current roleAssociate Professor with tenure
ChairCanada Research Chair in Metabolomics and Exposomics
Home departmentDepartment of Chemistry, UBC
Research modeAnalytical chemistry + computational biology + environmental chemistry

Profile

Advancing metabolomics from instrument-level measurement to biological interpretation.

Dr. Huan leads a multidisciplinary research program that advances the analytical performance of mass spectrometry in global metabolomics and brings metabolomics into systems biology. His group develops analytical and bioinformatic technologies for broader metabolomic coverage, improved metabolite identification, and more confident interpretation of complex biological and environmental samples.

He received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Alberta, where he worked with Dr. Liang Li on chemical isotope labelling liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. He then completed postdoctoral training with Dr. Gary Siuzdak at The Scripps Research Institute, developing metabolomics-guided systems biology approaches for understanding disease mechanisms. He joined the Department of Chemistry at UBC as an Assistant Professor in 2018 and became Associate Professor with tenure in 2024.

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

Selected recent recognition for contributions to metabolomics, exposomics, analytical chemistry, and measurement science.

2025Rising Star in Environmental Research, American Chemical Society
2025The President's Award, International Metabolomics Society
2025Fred Beamish Award, Canadian Society for Chemistry
2024UBC Killam Faculty Research Award
2024Rising Stars in Measurement Science, American Chemical Society
2024Canada Research Chair in Metabolomics and Exposomics, Government of Canada
2023Metabolites Young Investigator Award, Metabolites
2023Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Award
2022MANA Early Career Rising Star Award, Metabolomics Society of North America
2022Young Investigator Award, Chinese American Society for Mass Spectrometry
2021American Society for Mass Spectrometry Emerging Investigator, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry

Memberships and Affiliations

Dr. Huan is affiliated with interdisciplinary UBC programs and research clusters spanning bioinformatics, genome science, brain health, artificial intelligence, social exposomics, and microplastics research.

EditorialAdvisory Board Member, Analytica Chimica Acta
EditorialEditorial Board Member, Analytical Chemistry
FacultyFaculty Member, Bioproducts Institute
FacultyFaculty Member, UBC CAIDA
FacultyFaculty Member, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
Graduate ProgramFaculty Member, Graduate Program in Bioinformatics
Graduate ProgramFaculty Member, Genome Science and Technology Program
LeadershipSteering Committee and Faculty Member, UBC Social Exposome Research Cluster
SocietyMember, Chemical Institute of Canada
SocietyMember, Canadian Society for Mass Spectrometry
SocietyMember, American Society for Mass Spectrometry