Dr. James Springstead received his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001, and then earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2008, under the direction of Harold Monbouquette. During his studies at UCLA, Dr. Springstead discovered and characterized a novel trifunctional polypeptide and characterized the membrane lipid of the hypethermophilic archaeon, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, using mass spectrometry. Furthermore, he developed a method to measure the thermal area expansivity of lipid vesicles with multi angle laser light scattering, applicable as a quality control method for liposomes used in drug delivery and other industries. During his time in UCLA Chemical Engineering, he also taught classes in chemical engineering and molecular biotechnology and held leadership positions in several UCLA organizations.

Immediately following his Ph.D. studies, Dr. Springstead joined the prolific Atherosclerosis Research Unit in the Cardiology Division of the UCLA Department of Medicine as a postdoctoral researcher, his present position, performing research under the direction of Dr. Andrew Watson and Dr. Judith Berliner. In this work, he applies his enthusiasm and expertise in studying lipid chemistry to solving biological problems and studying lipids involved in medicine. He specifically uses mass spectrometry, western blotting, and microarray analysis to study the activation of endothelial cells by oxidized phospholipids, an event which can lead to the development of atherosclerosis, an underlying condition in heart disease and stroke. In his future research, he will further elucidate the mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis, and he will also explore the development and delivery of novel therapeutics for treatment of atherosclerosis.