Xunhai Zheng, Ph. D., is the analytical chemistry laboratory lead for the Center for Chemical Informatics & Screening within UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights. Xunhai leads analytical quality control activities supporting Chemical Insights’ chemical libraries and research programs.

Xunhai brings more than 15 years of multidisciplinary research experience spanning analytical chemistry, structural biology, protein sciences, mass spectrometry, and molecular characterization across biotechnology, agricultural research, and public-sector research organizations. His expertise includes LC-MS/MS, high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, chromatography, quantitative analysis, and complex analytical troubleshooting.

Before joining Chemical Insights, Xunhai held scientific positions at 5Metis, BASF, Bayer, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. His work has included LC-MS method development, quantitative analysis, metabolite identification, proteomics, biological assay support, and high-resolution NMR studies of protein structure and conformational dynamics. His research has contributed to the discovery and characterization of novel proteins, enzymes, and bioactive compounds.

Xunhai has authored or co-authored peer-reviewed publications in journals including eLife, Nucleic Acids Research, the Biochemical Journal, Biophysical Journal, the Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Scientific Reports. He has also contributed to patented discoveries involving pesticidal proteins, plant-pathogen control, cell-based screening assays, and herbicide-detoxifying enzymes.

Xunhai received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, his Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry, and his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. He is especially interested in integrating analytical chemistry, informatics, and biological screening to build reliable and scalable scientific workflows.

ORCID: 0000-0003-0390-2491