Bio

Abraham Badu-Tawiah obtained his B.Sc. (2002) and M.Sc. (2005) degrees from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi – Ghana, and M.S. (2007) degree in Chemistry from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana PA. He received Ph.D. (2012) in Chemistry from Purdue University (under the supervision of R. Graham Cooks), where he was awarded Andrews (2007 – 2009), Bisland Dissertation (2011), and Lilly Innovative (2012) Fellowships. From 2012 to 2014, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University under the direction of George M. Whitesides. He joined The Ohio State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in July 2014. Dr. Badu-Tawiah is a recipient of 2020 Sloan Fellowship Award, 2019 NIH MIRA for New Investigators Award, 2018 ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Arthur F. Findeis Award, 2017 Eli Lilly Young Investigator Award in Analytical Chemistry, 2017 American Society for Mass Spectrometry Research Award, and 2016 Department of Energy Early Career Award.

Research Overview

The Badu Research Group currently has three main research foci: (i) diagnostic mass spectrometry (MS) - in this project we focus on the development of new MS tools for non-experts (e.g., surgeon, immunologist, neuroscientist, etc.), and to make MS data acquisition and interpretation easier for them. We are developing new chemical probes that enable mass spectrometric analysis of proteins, antibodies, DNA, and other disease biomarkers under ambient conditions. (ii) Accelerated droplet reactions - here, we focus on the development of new tools to study organic/bio-molecular reactions using droplets as reaction vessels. We are interested in green catalysis, new reaction pathways, and the mechanism governing reactions in the micro-droplet environment. (iii) Aerosol therapy - in which we use MS as a tool to characterize drug aerosols, and to improve on their efficacy. All students that study in the Badu research group become exposed to the fundamentals of ambient ion chemistry (in a droplet or at an interface), modern MS instrumentation, bio-molecule handling, and bio-assay/immunoassay development. 

We are currently interested in accepting new students.

Recent Publications

Click to see full list of publications.

 “Quantification of Disaccharide Isomers via Porous Graphitic Carbon Chromatography Coupled with Microdroplet Chemistry with Online Tandem Mass Spectrometry” Santosh R. Acharya, Niraj K. Panday, Shixiang Xu, Enoch Amoa, and Abraham Badu-Tawiah* Analytical Chemistry 2026.

 “Facile Synthesis of Primary Amines via Nitrogen Fixation in Charged Microdroplets” Rebekah Erin Strong, Owen L. Looker, and Abraham K. Badu-Tawiah* Nature Communications 2026, 17, 7879.

“Differentiation of Disaccharide Isomers via Diagnostic-Ion-Weighted Spectral Library Searching using Data from Tandem MS Analysis of Chloride Adducts” Shixiang Xu, Santosh R. Acharya, Ruth M. Speidel, and Abraham K. Badu-Tawiah* Analyst, 2026, 151, 3803-3814.

“A Six-Membered Concerted Mechanism for CO2 Capture by Amines Studied under Charged Microdroplet Reaction Conditions” Taghi Sahraeian, Dmytro S. Kulyk, Ayesha Seth, Glib V. Baryshnikov, and Abraham K. Badu-Tawiah* Analytical Chemistry 2026, 98 (17), 12790-12801.

“Paper-based Immunoassay with Signal Amplification for Sensitive Detection of Nucleocapsid Protein Toward the Diagnosis of Long COVID” Monica Duarte Silva, Ruth Speidel, Ayesha Seth, Hianka J. C. Carvalho, Maria A. Miglino, Abraham K. Badu-Tawiah* Analyst 2026, 151, 2077-2088.

“Reactive Nano-Electrospray Ionization for In-Situ Oxidation of Aldehydes for Direct Mass Spectrometry Analysis” Kavyasree Chintalapudi, Jonathan N. Chilaka, and Abraham Badu-Tawiah* International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 2026, 519, 117552.

“Dynamic Spray Mass Spectrometry for Direct Analysis of Complex Mixtures” Purva S. Damale, Dmytro S. Kulyk, Alexander P. Zumock, and Abraham Badu-Tawiah* Analytical Chemistry 2025, 97, 42, 23391-23400.

“Plasma-Microdroplet Fusion for Online Post-Column Epoxidation: Toward Deep Lipidomics on Unmodified Mass Spectrometers” Niraj Panday, Alexander Grooms, Santosh Acharya, and Abraham Badu-Tawiah* Analytical Chemistry 2025, 97, 40, 21853-21862.

“Voltage Switching on a Dual Nano-Electrospray/Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Platform Provides Higher Discrimination Power for Malaria Detection via Direct Infusion Mass Spectrometry” Riley Ferguson, Dmytro Kulyk, and Abraham Badu-Tawiah* Analytical Chemistry 2025, 97, 35, 18946-18954.