Dr. Dale Schoeller is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he serves as Core Director at the Biotechnology Center. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry and geochemistry from Indiana University, receiving specialized training in isotope ratio mass spectrometry for applications in geochemistry and biology. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Schoeller completed postdoctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory, focusing on stable isotope tracer methods for human metabolism investigations. He subsequently joined the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago as director of the Stable Isotope Core within the Clinical Nutrition Unit before transitioning to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997 as Professor of Nutritional Sciences.
Dr. Schoeller holds the historic distinction of being the first researcher to implement the doubly labeled water method for measuring Total Energy Expenditure in humans, a groundbreaking contribution he made in collaboration with van Santen in 1984. His work established the protocols still used today for human applications and developed the foundational calculations that have become standard in the field. With extensive expertise in light isotope biogeochemistry, vacuum technology, and mass spectrometry, he has shaped methodologies that revolutionized the study of human energy metabolism. His pioneering research has provided critical tools for investigating obesity and nutritional science with unprecedented accuracy. Today, he continues to direct the laboratory responsible for performing doubly labeled water analyses and offers guidance to researchers seeking collaboration with the Isotope Ratio Laboratory.
As an internationally recognized expert in energy metabolism and body composition, Dr. Schoeller's work has profoundly influenced research on human obesity and metabolic disorders. His laboratory at the Biotechnology Center remains a premier facility for metabolic analysis, guiding researchers worldwide in the application of stable isotope methodologies. Despite transitioning to emeritus status in 2013, he maintains an active research profile and continues to provide essential mentorship to scientists employing isotope techniques in nutritional studies. Through his enduring contributions to measurement science, Dr. Schoeller has established methodological standards that continue to advance our understanding of human energy balance and metabolic health.
