I joined the Kenyon faculty in 2010 after working at Doane College in Nebraska as a post-doctoral associate. While at Doane, I worked on several different research projects including synthesis of fluorescent compounds, small molecule detection systems, and student understanding in spatial reasoning. However, by nature, I am a biochemist.

Here at Kenyon, my lab is investigating metabolic pathways related to branched-chain amino acids. We perform techniques such as nuclear magnetic spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to provide us with a "map" of metabolic pathways within a particular biological system. My teaching interests include introductory lecture and lab courses, as well as advanced courses related to biochemistry.

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry, Miami University (Ohio)
B.S., Chemistry, Aquinas College (Michigan)

Selected Publications

Lucas, K. Filley, J. Erb, J. Graybill, E. Hawes, J. Peroxisomal metabolism of propionic acid and isobutyric acid in plants J. Biol. Chem. 2007, 282, 24980-24989.

Burks, R.M. Pacquette, S.E. Guericke, M.A. Wilson, M.V. Symonsbergen, D.J. Lucas, K.A. Holmes, A.E. DETECHIP: a sensor for drugs of abuse J. Forensic Sci. 2010, 55(3), 723-727.

Anderson, M. Wilcox, K. Guericke, M. Chu, H. Wilson, M.V. Wilson, E. Lucas, K. Holmes, A.E. Enantiodiscrimination of methamphetamine by circular dichroism using a porphyrin tweezer Chirality 2010, 22(4), 398-402.

Courses Taught

CHEM 401 Emerging Techniques in Biological Chemistry
CHEM 123 Introductory Chemistry Lab