Rate My Professor Susan Murch

Professor Susan Murch is a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus within the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science. She holds BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees from the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on plant chemistry through the Plant Secondary Metabolite Analytical Research Team (PlantSMART), which investigates the chemistry of plants and its effects on human health using analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, biotechnology, metabolomics, and hormonomics approaches. Specific areas include the chemistry and roles of natural non-protein amino acids such as β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), chemical signaling in plants involving compounds like melatonin and serotonin, and the chemistry of breadfruit for applications in food security and product development. She teaches courses in analytical chemistry and plant biochemistry and has developed a micro-credential program in metabolomics.

Professor Murch previously held a Canada Research Chair in Natural Products Chemistry. Her work has contributed to advancements in understanding plant metabolites and their applications in agriculture, nutrition, and health. She maintains affiliations with Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute, the Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystems Services, and the Institute for Global Studies at UBC Okanagan.