Edgar A. Arriaga

Edgar A. Arriaga
Northey Professor of Chemistry, Department of ChemistryContact
Smith Hall Room 323 207 Pleasant Street SeMinneapolis, MN 55455
Education
Licenciatura: Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 1985
Ph.D.: Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, 1990
Post-Doctorate: University of Kansas Medical Center, 1990-1991, University of Alberta, 1992-1998
Biography
After earning a “Licenciatura” (B.Sc.) degree at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala in 1985, Edgar moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where he completed a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Dalhousie University in 1990. After two postdoctoral appointments, one at the University of Kansas Medical Center focused in electrophysiology and one at the University of Alberta focused on microanalytical chemistry, he joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota in 1998.
The Arriaga research program on bioanalytical chemistry has been unveiling mysteries hidden by the innate heterogeneity of biological systems. His research team, a.k.a. the Organelle Group, is unique in its efforts of using novel measurements at the single cell and individual organelle level to investigate “Why we Age”.
Edgar has mentored hundreds of undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdocs from the USA and around the world. His mentoring philosophy centers on empowering personal identities as an integral part of professional lives. In addition, he has advocated for excellence in mentoring through multiple professional roles including co-director of the NIH Functional Proteomics in Aging training grant (FPATG), former chair of the Graduate School Advisory Board (GSAB), former member and chair of the NIH Study Section NIA-B, which evaluates proposals from applicants whose next step is an independent academic career.
Edgar has taught introductory chemistry courses (Chem 1061), senior level analytical chemistry courses (Chem 4101, Chem 4111), and graduate courses (Chem 8157). He has also co-taught on a volunteer basis courses associated with the FPATG (BioC 8103, BioC 8104), and have co-led CSE Global Seminars with an emphasis on Learning Abroad in Panama. In the last two years, Edgar emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) perspective in his teachings, which includes a Mental Health Advocate’s perspective. In addition to his role as instructor, Edgar has been chair of the Committee on Professional Training (CPT) of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Edgar’s commitment to leadership has included his former role as co-Founder and co-Lead of the CSE Diversity and Inclusivity Alliance and his current role as Chair of the Campus Safety Committee that was created by the University of Minnesota Senate after the killing of George Floyd.
Edgar lives with his husband (Mike) and daughter (Diana) in Minneapolis. They enjoy many weekends at their cabin in central Minnesota, in Litchfield, Minnesota and annual trips to Guatemala and Latin America.
Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry
Chemical Biology: organoelle chemistry

Honors and Awards
CSE Dean’s Fellow, 2023
ACS Fellow, 2021
Co-Editor of issue “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect in Chemistry Education Research and Practice”, Journal of Chemical Education, 2020
CSE Taylor Award for Distinguished Service, 2019
Fesler-Lampert Chair in Aging Studies, 2007
National Institutes of Health Career Award, 2003
Distinguished Mentor Award, 2001
Research Innovation Award, 2000
Selected Publications
- Maxwell, Z. A., Suazo, K. F., Brown, H. M. G., Distefano, M. D., Arriaga, E. A. “Combining Isoprenoid Probes with Antibody Markers for Mass Cytometric Analysis of Prenylation in Single Cells”, Anal. Chem. 94, 11521-11528 (2022).
- Joaqui-Joaqui, M. A., Maxwell, Z., Ramakrishnam Raju, M. V., Jiang, M., Srivastava, K., Shao, F.; Arriaga, E. A.; Pierre, V. C. “Metallointercalators-DNA Tetrahedron Supramolecular Self-Assemblies with Increased Serum Stability”, ACS nano. 16(2), 2928-2941 (2022).
- Brooks, M. M., Fullilove, F. A., Mahoney, A. B., Arriaga, E. A. “Guidelines for Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect in Programs Offering Bachelor's Degrees in Chemistry”, Journal of Chemical Education, 99(1), 393-401 (2022).
- Brown, H. M. G.; Kuhns, M. M.; Maxwell, Z. A.; Arriaga, E. A. “Nonspecific Binding Correction for Single-Cell Mass Cytometric Analysis of Autophagy and Myoblast Differentiation", Anal. Chem. 93(3), 1401-1408 (2021).
- Yousefzadeh, M. J.; et al. “Fisetin is a senotherapeutic that extends health and lifespan”, EBioMedicine 36, 18-28 (2018).
Mailing address
Edgar A. Arriaga
University of Minnesota
Department of Chemistry
A-1, 139 Smith Hall
207 Pleasant St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0431