Richard A Yost,

Dr. Yost is the University Professor and Head of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Florida. He is also director of the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics (SECIM) and of NIH’s Metabolomics Consortium Coordinating Center (M3C). He is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of analytical chemistry, particularly tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). His research has been recognized with the ASMS Award for Distinguished Contribution in Mass Spectrometry, the MSACL Award for Distinguished Contribution to Clinical Mass Spectrometry, and the Florida Academy of Sciences Medal. He has also been inducted into the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Yost currently serves as Past President of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS).

Research in my group is focused on analytical mass spectrometry, particularly tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), making our group one of the most widely cited of any research program in analytical chemistry. Our current research efforts focus on innovations in imaging mass spectrometry and ion mobility instrumentation and techniques, and the application of these innovations in areas such as clinical and metabolomic analysis. Our group’s research has reflected a unique balance between fundamental studies, instrumentation development, and applications in analytical chemistry. Several instruments conceived and developed by me and my group are widely used as commercial instruments (with well over $1 billion in instrument sales each year), including the triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, the ion trap tandem mass spectrometer, and the laser microprobe tandem mass spectrometer. We have also been pioneers in imaging biomolecules in intact tissue, quantitative MALDI tandem mass spectrometry, and ion mobility/mass spectrometry (IMS and FAIMS).

I have supervised the research of over 120 graduate students over the past 40 years, graduating nearly 100 PhDs and 18 MSs; my current group includes 12 PhD candidates. Research in the group has led to over 230 publications and 25 patents. I have served as PI or Co-PI on over 100 grants or contracts, totaling over $60M of funding. My research has been recognized with the highest award in my discipline, the 1993 ASMS Award for Distinguished Contribution in Mass Spectrometry, as well as the 2018 MSACL Distinguished Contribution Award in Clinical Mass Spectrometry and the 2021 Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry Award.

I have extensive experience in leadership and governance in academics. I serve as Head of Analytical Chemistry, one of the most highly rated academic programs on the UF campus (consistently ranked in the top 10 nationwide). I have also served as Associate Dean for Research. I have served on the UF Board of Trustees and on the state of Florida Board of Governors (Regents). I have served three times on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS), and currently serve as Past President of ASMS.

Although my faculty appointment is in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, I have been heavily involved in collaborative research around campus, including with the Colleges of Medicine, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, and Engineering. I direct both the NIH Metabolomics Consortium Coordinating Center (M3C) and the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics (SECIM); I serve on the Executive Committee of UF’s CTSI (Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute) since it was founded, as well as on the CTSI’s Translational Technologies and Resources Advisory Committee. I am a Senior Member of the UF Health Cancer Center, a founding member of the UF Maples Center for Forensic Science, a member of the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute, served as a fellow and advisory board member of the UF Institute for Science and Health Policy, and was a Visiting Pathologist at the University of Utah in 2012.

0000-0002-1293-5669

• Clinical Chemistry
• Metabolomics