The 2026 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award

This year’s Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award recipient is Sarah Theiner, whose research is focused on the application of atomic spectroscopy techniques—laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and single-cell ICP-MS—to expand these analytical techniques as tools for biological and clinical imaging and drug-distribution studies.

Spectroscopy’s Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award recognizes the achievements and aspirations of a talented young atomic spectroscopist who has made strides early in his or her career toward the advancement of atomic spectroscopy techniques and applications. The winner must be within 10 years of receiving his or her highest academic degree in the year the award is granted, and the winner is chosen by an independent committee. The award was presented to Sarah Theiner at the 2026 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, which was held in Tucson, Arizona, from January 11 to 17, 2026.

Currently at Nu Instruments, Theiner’s research integrates laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), single-cell ICP-MS, and quantitative calibration strategies to address biological and clinical questions, helping to advance atomic spectroscopy as a powerful platform for elemental and imaging-based studies.

Mass spectrometry (MS)–based elemental analysis continues to expand in scope, particularly in biomedical research and therapeutic evaluation. Within this developing field, Theiner has built a research portfolio centered on high-resolution elemental imaging, cellular metallomics, and the analysis of metal-based anticancer compounds. Her work in combining LA-ICP-MS and single-cell ICP-MS with chemometrics is extending our understanding of biological and clinical analysis questions, contributing to the advancement of atomic spectroscopy as a tool for imaging and drug-distribution studies. These developments form the fundamental basis for her recognition as Spectroscopy’s 2026 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy.

MS–based elemental analysis has advanced over the past decade, particularly in fields connecting chemistry to biology and medicine. Within this landscape, Theiner’s work stands out for its focus on high-resolution elemental imaging, single-cell metallomics, and the characterization of metal-based therapeutic agents. Her research integrates MS, imaging science, bioinorganic chemistry, and chemometrics, with an emphasis on method development, quantitative accuracy, and applications in translational cancer research (1–4).

Early Academic Foundation

Theiner completed her diploma degree in chemistry at the University of Vienna in 2011, followed by her Ph.D. studies under Bernhard Keppler at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry. Her doctoral work, Pharmacokinetic and Bioimaging Studies of Platinum-based Anticancer Complexes by ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS, explored the distribution of platinum-containing therapeutics in biological systems, combining metallodrug chemistry with analytical instrumentation. This research laid a foundation for her later studies on platinum drug delivery and tumor response evaluation using MS imaging methods (4).

Her dissertation received the 2016 Award of Excellence from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research, and Economy, marking it as one of the year’s most impactful doctoral contributions in the chemical sciences.

Technical Expertise Across Multiple Mass Spectrometry Platforms

Theiner has developed extensive experience in a broad range of spectrometric and chromatographic technologies:

• ICP quadrupole-based mass spectrometry (QMS), ICP-tandem mass spectroscopy (MS/MS), and sector-field ICP-MS
• ICP time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (TOF-MS) for fast, multi-element detection
• Laser ablation ICP-MS for imaging tissues and single cells
• Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectroscopy imaging(MALDI-MSI) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI)-MS for molecular imaging
• Chromatographic separations—size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), reversed-phase (RP), and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)—coupled to ICP-MS
• Isotope dilution and quantitative calibration workflows

Her research uses these techniques in complementary ways, combining elemental and molecular information to produce more complete biological insights. This integrated approach supports applications such as tumor imaging, drug-distribution mapping, and the assessment of therapeutic mechanisms of action.

Research Themes and Contributions

1. Elemental Bioimaging in Biomedical Research

Laser ablation ICP-MS and ICP-TOF-MS play key roles in Theiner’s imaging research. She applied these techniques to visualize the distribution of therapeutic metals in tumors, multicellular spheroids, patient-derived samples, and preclinical models of disease. Her research, along with a 2018 publication demonstrating LA-ICP-MS imaging of tumor spheroids, earned the City of Vienna Award for Innovative Interdisciplinary Cancer Research (1).

Her work has also extended into immuno-mass spectrometry imaging, integrating elemental tags with LA-ICP-TOF-MS to support multiparametric tissue characterization (2). These developments contribute to broader applications of atomic spectroscopy within preclinical and clinical research settings.

2. Single-Cell Metallomics

Theiner’s contributions to single-cell ICP-MS have been widely recognized. Her 2020 review article (3) provides a foundational overview of the capabilities and challenges associated with cellular-level elemental analysis, and it has become a reference point within the field. Subsequent studies built on this work by demonstrating fast, multi-element imaging of tissue systems and high-resolution single-cell analysis using LA-ICP-TOF-MS.

This integrated single-cell approach clarifies how individual cells respond to metal-based therapeutics, environmental exposures, and biological stressors.

3. Quantitative Method Development and Calibration Strategies

Quantification remains essential for imaging-based research. To address this need, Theiner co-developed a micro-droplet–based calibration approach for LA-ICP-MS imaging, published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (4). The method improves accuracy and reproducibility in elemental imaging across tissue types and instrument platforms.

This calibration strategy provides a pathway toward greater standardization in quantitative bioimaging—an important consideration as more laboratories adopt high-speed LA-ICP-TOF-MS workflows.

4. Platinum-Based Anticancer Drug Research

A theme in Theiner’s work is the study of platinum-containing anticancer agents, including Pt(II)- and Pt(IV)-based compounds.

Her collaborations within the Vienna research community have led to insights on drug uptake, albumin-targeting strategies, and the in vivo activation pathways of Pt(IV) prodrugs (5). These studies combine elemental mapping, pharmacokinetics, and mechanistic interpretation, demonstrating how analytical chemistry supports the evaluation of novel therapeutic agents.

Professional Roles and Service Contributions

Beyond her research activities, Theiner contributes extensively to the scientific community:

• Co-supervision of more than 20 B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. students
• Teaching assistant in analytical and inorganic chemistry since 2012
• Organizer of the Young Analytical Forum (Austrian Society for Analytical Chemistry)
• Co-organizer of major meetings, including Metallomics 2017 and Mass Spectrometry Forum 2015/2017
• Reviewer for journals such as Analytical Chemistry, Analyst, Metallomics, and JAAS

These roles reflect a growing leadership position within the European atomic spectroscopy and analytical chemistry communities.

International Engagement and Scientific Communication

Theiner is an active participant in international conferences, delivering keynote and invited lectures at the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, TOFCon, the European Workshop on Laser Ablation, and other specialized meetings. Her contributions highlight both technological advances and biological applications of mass spectrometry.

Theiner’s research spans method development, advanced imaging science, and applications in cancer biology and therapeutic research. Her work demonstrates how atomic spectroscopy can contribute to both analytical innovation and biomedical understanding. For these reasons, she is recognized as Spectroscopy’s 2026 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy.

References

1. Klose, M. H. M.; Theiner, S.; Kornauth, C. et al.Bioimaging of Isosteric Osmium and Ruthenium Anticancer Agents by LA-ICP-MS. Metallomics 2018, 10, 388–396. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8mt00012c.
2. Schaier, M.; Theiner, S.; Braun, G. et al. Multiparametric Tissue Characterization Utilizing the Cellular Metallome and Immuno-Mass Spectrometry Imaging. JACS Au 2023, 3 (2), 419–428. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.2c00571.
3. Theiner, S.; Loehr, K.; Koellensperger, G.; et al. . Single-Cell Analysis by Use of ICP-MS. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 2020, 35 (9), 1784–1813. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0JA00194E.
4. Schweikert, A.; Theiner, S.; Wernitznig, D.; et al. Micro-Droplet-Based Calibration for Quantitative Elemental Bioimaging by LA-ICP-MS. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2022, 414, 485–495. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03357-w.
5. Schueffl, H.; Theiner, S.; Hermann, G. et al. Albumin-Targeting of an Oxaliplatin-Releasing Platinum(IV) Prodrug Results in Pronounced Anticancer Activity Due to Endocytotic Drug Uptake In Vivo. Chem. Sci. 2021, 12 (38), 12587–12599. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC03311E.