Analytical Toxicology
Research Field
Professor. Chen’s research revolves around analytical toxicology and advanced method development. Her team is dedicated to establishing comprehensive platforms for the detection of emerging drugs of abuse and characterizing their metabolic pathways. By integrating microextraction techniques with innovative mass spectrometry interfaces—including 3D-printed paper-based microfluidics and paper spray—the team significantly enhances signal sensitivity while minimizing matrix interference. These advancements enable the rapid identification of toxins in complex biological and environmental matrices.
Furthermore, Professor Chen utilizes cell culture models to investigate drug metabolism and the mechanisms of addiction, as well as to profile metabolomic changes. Her work also extends to exposome research, assessing health risks and environmental hazards through the analysis of drugs in wastewater and food matrices. More recently, her team has pioneered a multimodal analytical platform that integrates SALDI-MS and LC-MS. By leveraging chemical synthesis and functional nanomaterials, they have developed paper-based chips capable of trace-level molecular confirmation in forensic and clinical settings.
Led by Professor Pai-Shan Chen, our laboratory stands at the intersection of Analytical Chemistry, Clinical Toxicology, and Multi-omics, dedicated to developing innovative mass spectrometry (MS) platforms to address complex challenges in clinical and forensic sciences.
Our core expertise lies in Advanced Mass Spectrometry Development and Application. We specialize in designing high-sensitivity detection systems, including 3D-printed paper-based microfluidic devices, paper spray ionization, and aptamer-functionalized chips. These technologies, coupled with advanced signal enhancement strategies, enable the ultra-trace detection of miRNA and emerging psychoactive substances in complex matrices.
In the realm of Clinical Chemistry and Precision Diagnostics, we bridge the gap between fundamental chemistry and medical application. By conducting in-depth mechanistic studies on oximation and silylation derivatization, we exert precise control over in-source fragmentation. These chemical innovations significantly enhance the diagnostic accuracy for metabolic disorders such as Organic Acidemias and Pheochromocytoma.
Furthermore, we are pioneers in Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) and large-scale drug screening. Our team establishes robust high-throughput methods to monitor multiple drugs of abuse and their metabolic pathways, facilitating the discovery of critical biomarkers. By analyzing consumption patterns within communities, we provide evidence-based data essential for public health policy and environmental risk assessment.
Our commitment to Metabolomics and Exposomics extends to the comprehensive profiling of small molecules, lipids, and DNA adducts. By integrating computational lipidomics and data visualization, we investigate the molecular mechanisms of disease and addiction. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of nanomaterial-enhanced sensing (SALDI-MS), our laboratory continues to push the boundaries of analytical science to improve global health and forensic integrity.
1. Advanced Mass Spectrometry Development and Application
2. Clinical Chemistry and Precision Diagnostics
3. Forensic, Clinical, and Environmental Toxicology
4. Nanomaterial-Enhanced Sensing Technologies
5. Metabolomics and Exposomics for Disease Mechanisms.
Dr. Chen has specialized in analytical toxicology since earning her PhD. Her leadership roles include serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Taiwan Journal of Forensic Medicine (2012–2016) and holding key positions within the Taiwan Society of Forensic Medicine as Supervisor (2012–2016) and Secretary General (2016–2020). A long-standing member of the international forensic toxicology community, she has been a Fellow of the London Toxicology Group since 2008 and of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) since 2014, later serving as the TIAFT Taiwan Representative in 2020. Most recently, she was honored with the 2024 Young Scholar Award by the Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry. Her recent studies were featured by National Taiwan University in Asia Research News (2025) under the titles “Turning Everyday Filter Paper into a Miniature Microfluidic Platform with DLP 3D Printing” and “Next-Generation Material Unlocks More Efficient Multi-Drug Screening.”
In addition, her PhD and master’s students have received multiple national recognitions, including First Place in the 2025 Outstanding Poster Award from the Taiwan Society for Risk Analysis, the 2025 Outstanding Poster Award from the Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry, and the 2025 Outstanding Poster Award from the Chemical Society of Taiwan.
B.S. in Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan; M.S. in Chemistry,
National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan; Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Department of Forensic and Analytical Science, King’s College London,
U.K.; Postdoctoral training in National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.
Assistant Professor (2012-2016), Associate Professor in Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine (2016-2019),
Associate Professor (2019-2022), Professor in Graduate Institute of Toxicology (2022-till now), National Taiwan University.
Job Description
Our laboratory studies the interactions among air pollutants, bacteria, and the gastrointestinal system using metabolomics approaches. We are also actively developing novel organoid- and paper-based microfluidic platforms that can be coupled with mass spectrometry to enable real-time monitoring of drug treatment effects.
Interns will receive hands-on training in sample preparation, LC–MS/MS operation, data analysis, and method development, and will participate in interdisciplinary discussions at the interface of analytical chemistry, toxicology, neuroscience, and microfluidic technology. The laboratory works in close collaboration with experts in toxicology, chemistry, biomedical engineering, and clinical medicine within the School of Medicine at National Taiwan University. The working language of the laboratory is English, and interns will work in an international research environment.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
We seek undergraduate or master’s students majoring in chemistry, toxicology, biology, or related fields. Prior laboratory experience is preferred.
Skill sets or Qualities
Candidates should have previous experience in wet-lab research or demonstrate strong enthusiasm for scientific research.