Edgar A. Arriaga

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.