Prof. Tian (Autumn) Qiu
Career summary
Dr. Tian (Autumn) Qiu completed her BS in Chemistry at Peking University and PhD in Chemistry at University of Minnesota. Her PhD work focused on understanding nanotoxicity mechanisms to environmental bacteria in the laboratory of Prof. Christy Haynes as part of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology. She was awarded in 2018 as a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, working with Prof. Jonathan Sweedler and collaborators on exploring the roles of D-amino acids in the microbiome-gut-brain axis using animal and microbial models. She started as an assistant professor in Chemistry at Michigan State University in 2022. She received the 2025 Research Award from American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS)!
The Qiu Lab in the Department of Chemistry at Michigan State University operates at the intersection of analytical chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, and neuroscience. The group integrates advanced analytical and biological approaches—particularly high-throughput mass spectrometry—to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying environment–host–microbe interactions.
Their research includes developing MALDI-MS methodologies combined with trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) to analyze per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Using MALDI-TIMS-MS imaging, her lab maps the spatial distribution of PFAS and correlates these patterns with biological structures and functions. In addition, the lab conducts comprehensive host–microbe metabolomics studies, visualizing cellular, chemical, and elemental landscapes at the gut–lumen interface through microscopy, MALDI-MS imaging, and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma (LA-ICP)-MS imaging.
The Qiu Lab in the Department of Chemistry at Michigan State University operates at the intersection of analytical chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, and neuroscience. The group integrates advanced analytical and biological approaches—particularly high-throughput mass spectrometry—to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying environment–host–microbe interactions.
Their research includes developing MALDI-MS methodologies combined with trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) to analyze per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Using MALDI-TIMS-MS imaging, her lab maps the spatial distribution of PFAS and correlates these patterns with biological structures and functions. In addition, the lab conducts comprehensive host–microbe metabolomics studies, visualizing cellular, chemical, and elemental landscapes at the gut–lumen interface through microscopy, MALDI-MS imaging, and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma (LA-ICP)-MS imaging.
Professional Highlights
2022-Present Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University
2021-2022 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Advisor: Prof. Jonathan Sweedler
2018-2021 Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology UIUC
Advisors: Profs. Jonathan Sweedler (main), Nathan Schroeder, and Huimin Zhao
2013-2018 Graduate Researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota Advisor: Prof. Christy Haynes
2011-2012 Undergraduate Researcher, College of Engineering, Peking University Advisor: Prof. Yanyi Huang
2010 Summer REU, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Advisor: Prof. Carol Fierke
2009-2011 Undergraduate Researcher, Department of Chemical Biology, Peking University Advisor: Peng R. Chen
2021-2022 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Advisor: Prof. Jonathan Sweedler
2018-2021 Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology UIUC
Advisors: Profs. Jonathan Sweedler (main), Nathan Schroeder, and Huimin Zhao
2013-2018 Graduate Researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota Advisor: Prof. Christy Haynes
2011-2012 Undergraduate Researcher, College of Engineering, Peking University Advisor: Prof. Yanyi Huang
2010 Summer REU, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Advisor: Prof. Carol Fierke
2009-2011 Undergraduate Researcher, Department of Chemical Biology, Peking University Advisor: Peng R. Chen
Education
2018 Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, University of Minnesota, MN
Thesis advisor: Prof. Christy Haynes
Thesis title: Bacterial response to nanomaterials at the molecular level.
2014 Master of Science in Chemistry, University of Minnesota, MN
2012 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Peking University, China
Thesis advisor: Prof. Christy Haynes
Thesis title: Bacterial response to nanomaterials at the molecular level.
2014 Master of Science in Chemistry, University of Minnesota, MN
2012 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Peking University, China
publications
(Underlined & bold: corresponding author from independent career; Underlined: Qiu lab member)
- Reynolds A.J., Mickel J.A., Nault R., Qiu, T.A. Isomer-specific distribution of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in hepatic zonation in mouse. 2025. Preprint on bioRxiv: doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.13.682167.
- Haffner, J. H., Ahn, S. H., Qiu, T. A. (2025). Revealing Spatial Heterogeneity across the Gut Tissue-Lumen Interface through MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Preprint on bioRxiv: doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.01.657309.
- Saitoh, Y., Qiu, T.A. (2025). Dynamics of biofilm-forming Bacillus subtilis in Caenorhabditis elegans gut. Preprint on bioRxiv: doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.26.634914. Under Review at Open Biology.
- Qiu, T. A., Andersen, H. M., Larson, N. J., Schroeder, N. E., Sweedler, J. V. (2021). Identifying sources of D-serine in Caenorhabditis elegans and their impact on behavior. Preprint on ChemRxiv: doi.org/10.33774/chemrxiv-2021-mz0tt.
- Manchanda, R., Aminoroaya, A., Volmert, B., Haffner, J. J., Vaughan, P., Grady, C., Qiu, T. A., Smith, B. R. (2025) Hydrogel-based drug delivery system to treat chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Biomaterials Advances, 178, 214452.
- Qiu, T. A. (2024). Mass spectrometry imaging for spatial toxicology research (invited perspective). Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 59(12), e5104.
- Reynolds, A. J., Smith, A. M., Qiu, T. A. (2024) Detection, quantification, and isomer differentiation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using MALDI-TOF with trapped ion mobility. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 35(2), 317–325.
- Lee, C. J., Lee, D., Wei, I.-A., Qiu, T. A., Rubakhin, S., Roper, M.G., Sweedler, J. V., (2023). Relations between glucose and D-amino acids in the modulation of biochemical and functional properties of rodent islets of Langerhans. ACS Omega, 8(50), 47723–47734.
- Qiu, T. A., Lee, C. J., Huang, C., Rubakhin, S., Lee, D., Romanova, E., Sweedler, J. V., (2023). Biodistribution and racemization of gut-absorbed L/D-alanine in germ-free mice. Communications Biology, 6(1), 851.
- Lee, C. J.*, Qiu, T. A.*, Hong, Z.*, Zhang, Z., Min, Y., Zhang, L., Dai, L., Zhao, H., Si, T., Sweedler, J. V., (2022). Profiling of D-alanine production by the microbial isolates of rat gut microbiota. (*Co- first authors) The FASEB Journal, 36:e22446.
- Qiu, T. A., Guidolin, V., Hoang, K. N., Pho, T., Carrà, A., Villalta, P. W., He, J., Yao, X., Hamers, R. J., Balbo, S., Feng, Z. V., Haynes, C. L., (2020). Nanoscale battery cathode materials induce DNA damage in bacteria. Chemical Science, 11, 11244-11258.
- Lee, C. J.*, Qiu, T. A.*, Sweedler, J. V. (2020). D-Alanine: distribution, origin, physiological relevance, and implications in diseases, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics, 1868(11), 140482. (*Co-first authors)
- Clement, P. L., Kuether, J. E., Borgatta, J. R., Buchman, J. T., Cahill, M. S., Qiu, T. A., Hamers, R. J., Feng, Z. V., Christy L. H. (2019). Cobalt release from a nanoscale multiphase lithiated cobalt phosphate dominates interaction with Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and Bacillus subtilis SB491, Chemical Research in Toxicology, 33(3), 806-816.
- Qiu, T. A., Clement, P. L., Haynes, C. L. (2018). Linking nanomaterial properties to biological outcomes: analytical chemistry challenges in nanotoxicology for the next decade (Invited Perspectives), Chemical Communications, 54, 12787-12803.
- Olenick, L. L., Troiano, J. M., Vartanian, A. M., Melby, E. S., Zhang, L., Qiu, T. A., Lohse, S. E., Zhang, Xi., Kuech, T. R., Gunsolus, I. L., McGeachy, A., Doğangün, M, Hu, D., Walter, S. R., Lovern, S., Owen, H., Hang, M. N., Torelli, M. D., Feng, Z. V., Hurley, K. R., Dalluge, J., Haynes, C. L., Hamers, R. J., Pedersen, J. A., Cui, Q., Orr, G., Murphy, C. J., Geiger, F. M. (2018). Lipid corona formation from nanoparticle interactions with membranes, Chem, 4(11), 2709-2723.
- Gallagher, M. J., Buchman, J. T., Qiu, T. A., Zhi, B., Lyons, T. Y., Landy, K. M., Rosenzweig, Z., Haynes, C. L., Fairbrother, D. H. (2018). Release, detection and toxicity of fragments generated during artificial accelerated weathering of CdSe/ZnS and CdSe quantum dot polymer composites. Environmental Science: Nano, 5, 1694-1710.
- Zheng, Z., Saar, J., Zhi, B., Qiu, T. A., Gallagher, M. J., Fairbrother, D. H., Haynes, C. L., Lienkamp, K., Rosenzweig, Z. (2018). Structure-property relationships of amine-rich and membrane-disruptive poly(oxonorbornene)-coated gold nanoparticles. Langmuir, 34(15), 4614-4625.
- Zhi, B., Gallagher, M. J., Frank, B. P., Lyons, T. Y., Qiu, T. A., Da, J., Mensch, A. C., Hamers, R. J., Rosenzweig, Z., Fairbrother, D. H.; Haynes, C. L. (2017). Synthesis and bacterial toxicity of nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped amorphous carbon dots. Carbon, 129, 438-449.
- Qiu, T. A., Nguyen, T. H. T., Hudson-Smith, N. V., Clement, P. L., Forester, D-C., Frew, H., Hang, M. N., Murphy, C. J., Hamers, R. J., Feng, Z. V., Haynes, C. L. (2017). Growth-based bacterial viability assay for interference-free and high-throughput toxicity screening of nanomaterials. Analytical Chemistry, 89, 2057–2064.
- Qiu, T. A., Torelli, M. D., Vartanian, A. M., Rackstraw, N. B., Buchman, J. T., Jacob, L. M., Murphy, C. J., Hamers, R. J., Haynes, C. L. (2017). Quantification of free polyelectrolytes present in colloidal suspension, revealing source of toxic responses for polyelectrolyte-wrapped gold nanoparticles. Analytical Chemistry, 89, 1823–1830.
- Qiu, T. A., Meyer, B. M., Christenson, K. G., Klaper, R. D., Haynes, C. L. (2017). A mechanistic study of TiO2 nanoparticle toxicity on Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 with UV-containing simulated solar irradiation: Bacterial growth, riboflavin secretion, and gene expression. Chemosphere, 168, 1158-1168.
- Finkenstaedt-Quinn, S. A., Qiu, T. A., Shin K., Haynes, C. L. (2016). Super-resolution imaging for monitoring cytoskeleton dynamics. Analyst, 141, 5674-5688.
- Qiu, T. A.*, Bozich, J. S.*, Lohse,S. E., Vartanian, A. M., Jacob, L. M., Meyer, B. M., Gunsolus, I. L., Niemuth, N. J., Murphy, C. J., Haynes, C. L., Klaper, R. D. (2015). Gene expression as an indicator of the molecular response and toxicity in the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis and the water flea Daphnia magna exposed to functionalized gold nanoparticles. Environmental Science: Nano, 2, 615- 629. (*Co-first authors.)
- Feng, Z. V., Gunsolus, I. L., Qiu, T. A., Hurley, K., Nyberg, L. H., Frew, H., Johnson, K. P., Vartanian, M., Jacob, L. M., Lohse, S. E., Torelli, M. D., Hamers, R. J., Murphy, C. J., Haynes, C. L. (2015). Impacts of gold nanoparticle charge and ligand type on surface binding and toxicity to Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Chemical Science, 6, 5186-5196.
