Scientific Advisory Board
Guided by internationally recognized leaders in metabolomics, analytical chemistry, and mass spectrometry.
4
Advisors
600+
Publications
100+
Years Experience
Experts Driving Innovation in Metabolomics
The IROA scientific team brings together decades of expertise in metabolomics, mass spectrometry, and computational biology. Their work focuses on developing robust isotope-based technologies that improve accuracy, reproducibility, and confidence in metabolite identification and quantitation. Through continuous innovation, they ensure ClusterFinder delivers reliable, high-performance solutions for modern LC-MS workflows.
Oliver Fiehn, Ph.D.
Rick A. Yost, Ph.D.
Timothy J. Garrett, Ph.D.
Oliver Fiehn, Ph.D.
Prof. Oliver Fiehn, Ph.D. is Professor and Metabolomics Facilities Director at the UC Davis Genome Center, internationally recognized for pioneering advances in metabolomics and mass spectrometry. His research has significantly shaped the field through the development of innovative analytical methods, computational tools, and standardized workflows for metabolite identification and quantitation.
After beginning his career as a postdoctoral scholar in 1998, Dr. Fiehn became a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Germany, before joining the University of California, Davis in 2004. Since then, he has led a multidisciplinary research laboratory while overseeing one of the world's leading metabolomics core facilities.
Since 2012, Dr. Fiehn has served as Director of the NIH West Coast Metabolomics Center, supervising a large scientific team and advanced mass spectrometry laboratories. Under his leadership, the center has become a global resource for metabolomics research, providing validated analytical services, scientific collaborations, and cutting-edge technologies for academic, government, and industry partners.
With more than 220 peer-reviewed publications, his work continues to advance systems biology, precision medicine, plant sciences, and computational metabolomics, making him one of the most influential researchers in modern metabolomics.
Rick A. Yost, Ph.D.
Dr. Rick A. Yost is Professor and Head of Analytical Chemistry and the Robin & Jean Gibson Term Professor in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Florida. He earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Michigan State University in 1979 and has established an internationally recognized career in analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry.
Dr. Yost is widely recognized for co-conceiving the computerized tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer for analytical MS/MS studies with Professor Chris Enke. This pioneering innovation transformed modern mass spectrometry instrumentation and earned him the prestigious 1993 American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Award for Distinguished Contribution in Mass Spectrometry.
Throughout his career at the University of Florida, Dr. Yost has supervised more than 100 graduate students and researchers while securing over $20 million in competitive research funding. His work has resulted in more than 160 peer-reviewed publications and 16 patents, with technologies derived from these patents contributing to mass spectrometry instruments representing over $30 billion in worldwide sales.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Dr. Yost has provided distinguished leadership through service on numerous academic and scientific advisory boards, including the Florida Board of Governors, the University of Florida Board of Trustees, and the editorial boards of the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry and the International Journal of Mass Spectrometry. His contributions continue to advance analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry research worldwide.
Timothy J. Garrett, Ph.D.
Dr. Timothy J. Garrett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Florida, where he also serves as Director of High Throughput Metabolomics for the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics. His research focuses on translating advanced mass spectrometry technologies into clinical diagnostics and disease biomarker discovery.
Dr. Garrett earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia, graduating Summa Cum Laude with Highest Honors, and received a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship for undergraduate research. He completed his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Florida under the mentorship of Dr. Rick A. Yost, where he developed the first ion trap-based imaging mass spectrometry platform through a collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Throughout his academic career, Dr. Garrett has received numerous honors recognizing excellence in research and scientific publication, including the Grinter Fellowship, the Procter & Gamble Award for Excellence in Graduate Research, the Baites-Laitinen Award, and the Crow-Stasch Award for Excellence in Publication.
His current research applies metabolomics and high-resolution mass spectrometry to clinical diagnostics, disease characterization, and biomarker discovery. His laboratory specializes in direct tissue analysis techniques, including MALDI, DESI, and Liquid Microjunction Surface Sampling Probe (LMJ-SSP), enabling innovative approaches for translational and precision medicine.
Dr. Garrett has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications and serves on the Editorial Board of Clinical Mass Spectrometry. His work continues to advance the integration of metabolomics and mass spectrometry into modern clinical and biomedical research.
David Banks, Ph.D.
Dr. David Banks is Professor of the Practice of Statistics at Duke University, where he is recognized for his extensive contributions to applied statistics, data science, and statistical methodology. With more than 25 years of experience, he has worked across academia, government, and industry to develop advanced statistical solutions for complex scientific and analytical challenges.
Dr. Banks earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held numerous leadership positions, including Acting Chief Statistician and Director of the Office of Advanced Studies at the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, as well as Special Assistant to the Director of Biostatistics at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
His expertise spans statistical modeling, computational statistics, regulatory science, and data analytics. He has served as a consultant to academic institutions, government agencies, and private industry, helping develop sophisticated statistical methodologies for a broad range of scientific and engineering applications.
Dr. Banks has also served on the editorial boards of several leading scientific journals and has received numerous professional honors recognizing his outstanding contributions to the field of statistics. His research and leadership continue to influence modern statistical practice across diverse disciplines.