Matt J. Hengel, PhD is an analytical chemist specializing in pesticide residue analysis across food and environmental matrices. His work spans regulatory and applied research, with a focus on developing and validating analytical methods to detect trace-level contaminants in fruits, vegetables, air, water, and soil. 

He has extensive experience with chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, including gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), and mass spectrometry (MS), which underpin his approach to multi-residue analysis and environmental monitoring. 

Dr. Hengel earned his PhD and MS in Agricultural & Environmental Chemistry, and his BS in Environmental Toxicology, from the University of California, Davis. He remains actively engaged in academia through teaching and mentorship, including instruction in quantitative analysis of environmental toxicants and guest laboratory teaching in GC/MS applications. 

In addition to his academic contributions, he serves in leadership roles within the IR-4 Program, supporting pesticide registration research, and contributes to the Agricultural & Environmental Chemistry Graduate Group. 

Dr. Hengel has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications covering pesticide fate, food chemistry, environmental toxicology, and analytical method development. His recent work includes advances in LC–MS/MS methods, studies on contaminant behavior in agricultural systems, and analytical approaches to emerging compounds in food and environmental samples.