Dr. Tucker believes that research is a collaborative endeavor and has active collaborations in chemistry, biology, environmental science, exercise physiology, medicine, geography, and geology. Research topics span from watershed science and environmental toxicology to analytical method development to address measurements in human cancer and agricultural products. Students in my lab will learn a variety of techniques including solid-phase extraction, mass spectrometry, and environmental sampling.

Current Projects: (collaborators)

•        Quantitation of Pharmaceuticals, Pesticides, and Herbicides in Fresh Water (along with N, P and other parameters)  (Dr. Robert Dixon)

•        Quantitation of Phenolics, Flavonoids, and Mycotoxins in Corn (Dr. Carrie Butts-Wilmsmeyer)

•        Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Various Substrates

•        Targeted Metabolomics in Gynecological Cancers (Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology's Dr. Andrea Braundmeier-Fleming)

•        Quantitation of Statin Drug effects in Worms

•        Quantitation of PFCs in Water and Soil (NIU Department of Geology's Dr. Megan Brown and Dr. Melissa Lenczewski)

•        Quantitation of PPCPs in Cancun (NIU Department of Geology's Dr. Megan Brown and Dr. Melissa Lenczewski)

•        Determination of Drug Effectiveness in the Treatment of Tinnitus (SIU School of Medicine's and the Department of Pharmacology's Dr. Don Caspery)

•        Quantitation of Endocannabinoids in Rat Blood (Dr. Chaya Gopalan)

I am always interested in recruiting independent, self-motivated, bright freshman and sophomore Chemistry and Biochemistry majors as well as majors from Environmental Science and Biology. Please reach out if you have an interest in the types of work that we are performing.