Bio
Boone M. Prentice grew up in Gaithersburg, MD and received his B.S. degree in Chemistry with Honors and Distinction from Longwood University (Farmville, VA) in 2008 with minors in Biology and Mathematics. At Longwood, he conducted electroanalytical research focused on developing biosensors under the supervision of Professor Melissa C. Rhoten. He attended graduate school at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) under the mentorship of Professor Scott A. McLuckey and received a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2013. His Ph.D. research focused on ion trap mass spectrometry (MS) instrumentation development as well as gas-phase ion/ion and ion/molecule reactions involving biopolymers. Boone then worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in Professor Richard Caprioli’s laboratory at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) where he studied matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) instrumentation and applications. Specifically, he worked on Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) and time-of-flight (TOF) MS systems and applied IMS to the study of diabetes, cancer, drug delivery, and infectious disease. Boone joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor in the fall of 2018. His research focuses on developing next-generation bioanalytical mass spectrometry to better understand the molecular basis of health and disease.
Areas of Interest/Research
Analytical Chemistry / Mass Spectrometry
Education & Positions
2018 – present University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) – Assistant Professor (Department of Chemistry)
2013 – 2018 Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) – Postdoctoral Fellow (Biochemistry)
2008 – 2013 Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) – Ph.D. in Chemistry (Analytical Chemistry)
2004 – 2008 Longwood University (Farmville, VA) – B.S. in Chemistry (Minors in Biology and Mathematics)
Awards
2024 – 2029 NSF CAREER Award (2338651)
2024 Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Outstanding Reviewer
2024 International Journal of Mass Spectrometry Young Scientists Feature
2024 Journal of Mass Spectrometry Early Career Special collection
2023 – 2024 College Faculty Advising/Mentor Award
2023 Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Emerging Investigators Feature
2023 JDRF Innovation Award
2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Young Investigators in (Bio-)Analytical Chemistry Feature
2022 Eli Lilly and Company Young Investigator Award
2020 – 2025 NIH NIGMS R01 (GM138660)
2017 Journal of Postdoctoral Research Postdoc of the Year Award (Vanderbilt)
2016 Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association and Shared Resources Postdoc of the Year Award
2016 Journal of Postdoctoral Research Postdoc-of-the-Month Award (March 2016) (Vanderbilt)
2015 – 2016 Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (NIH NIDDK F32) (Vanderbilt)
2014 American Society for Mass Spectrometry Postdoctoral Award (Vanderbilt)
2013 – 2015 Training Program in Environmental Toxicology (NIH T32) (Vanderbilt)
2013 – 2014 G. Mellon Award in Analytical Chemistry (Purdue)
2013 Alice Watson Kramer Research Scholar Award (Purdue)
2012 – 2013 Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship (Purdue)
2012 American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry (DAC) Summer Graduate Fellowship (Purdue)
2008 American Chemical Society Virginia Section Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry (Longwood)
2008 American Chemical Society Regional Outstanding Senior (Longwood)
2008 Longwood Excellence in Undergraduate Research
2005 Alton M. Harvill Jr. Scholarship (Longwood)
2004 – 2008 Longwood University Cormier Citizen Scholar
2004 – 2008 Longwood University Honors Program
Selected Professional Associations and Service
American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
International Lipidomics Society (ILS)
UF Health Cancer Center (HCC)
Southeastern Center for Integrated Metabolomics (SECIM)
UF Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research
UF Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI)
Analytical Chemistry Early Career Board (2023 – 2026)
CLAS Faculty Council (UF) (2023 – 2025)
Laser Safety Committee (UF) (2023 – 2025)
Graduate Student Peer Mentoring Program Coordinator (2021 – present)
Females in Mass Spectrometry (FeMS) mentor (2020 – present)
Graduate Student Advising Committee (UF) (2019 – present)
Journal of Mass Spectrometry Associate Advisory Board (2019 – present)
Florida Regional Junior Science, Engineering, & Humanities Symposium Judge & Host (2019 – present)
Broadening Accessibility Committee (UF) (2018 – present)