Taifo Mahmud received a B.S. (1989) and a professional pharmacy degree (1991) from University of North Sumatra, Indonesia, and a M.S. (1994) and a Ph.D. (1997) from Osaka University, Japan. He then joined the University of Washington as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (1997–2000) and a Research Assistant Professor (2000–2003) with Prof. Heinz G. Floss. In 2003, he moved to Oregon State University as an Assistant Professor and rose through the ranks to Full Professor in 2013. His research interests are broadly in medicinal chemistry and natural products biosynthesis. He uses molecular genetics, enzymology, and chemistry approaches to create and develop new biologically active compounds.