Dr. William LaCourse
Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dean, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS)
Current Graduate Students
Kayry Segarra
Ph.D. Student in Chemistry
B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2013, Stockton University)
Amanda Belunis
Ph.D. Candidate in Chemistry
B.S. in Forensic Chemistry (2019, Towson University)
Current Undergraduate Students
Joana Ruth Camacho-Nathan
Expected Graduation Dec 2024
Previous Group Members
Graduate Students
Ciara Pitman, Ph.D defended April 2022
Dissertation: “Molecular Ionization Desorption Analysis Source for Mass Spectrometry: Food Authenticity and Other Applications”
Currently working as an HPLC Product Specialist at Shimadzu Scientific Instruments.
Jacquelyn Cunning, Ph.D defended September 2019
Dissertation: “ Development of an Indicator Displacement Assay Reagent for Saccharide Quantitation”
DeLauren McCauley, Ph.D defended November 2017
Dissertation: “Development of an Automated Method for Off-Flavor Compound using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry”
Sarah Bass, Ph.D defended September 2017
Dissertation: “Quantitative In Vitro Microdialysis Sampling Coupled On-Line to HPAEC-PAD for Assessing Mannan-Degrading Enzymes”
Currently a Lecturer at UMBC
William “Ben” Michael Cunning, Ph.D defended July 2017
Dissertation: “Bi-potential Pulsed Electrochemical Detection of Copper”
Currently a Chemist at the FDA
Andrea Gray, Ph.D defended July 2016
Dissertation: “An Integrated Platform of Analytical Chemical Techniques for Profiling of Therapeutic Glycoproteins”
Currently a Chemist at the FDA.
Gregory Winter, Ph.D defended May 2016
Dissertation: “Development of the Molecular Ionization Desorption Analysis Source (MIDAS) for Mass Spectrometry”
Currently Quality Assurance Manager at Flying Dog Brewery
Brahmi Shukla, Ph.D defended 2013
Dissertation: “Synthesis of Hydrophobically Modified Nucleotide Analogs and their Incorporation into Oligonucleotides for Enhanced Chromatographic Separations”
John Joseph Tobin, Ph.D defended May 2012
Dissertation: “The Development of a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) Method for the Separation and Identification of Components of Organic Gunshot Residue and Its Use as a Forensic Tool for Association of Firearms Related Evidence”
Jennifer Fedorowski, Ph.D defended April 2012
Dissertation: “Photo-Assisted Electrochemical Detection (PAED) Following HPLC-UV for the Determination of RDX and Degradation Products”
Currently a Senior Scientist at US Pharmacopeia
Smitha Vokkaliga, Ph.D defended 2011
Dissertation: “ A Novel Solid Phase Derivatization Reagent for the Determination of Amines by Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detection”
Melinda Kaye Wilson defended October 2011
Dissertation: “Determination of Adulteration in Commercial Fruit Juices”
Jules Guei, Ph.D defended December 2010
Dissertation: “A Novel Calorimetric Reagent for the Detection of Biogenic Amines”
Currently an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Community College of Baltimore County
Suma Vavilala, Ph.D defended 2010
Dissertation: “Pulsed Electrochemical Detection of Sulfur-Containing Antibiotics”
Currently a Senior Chemist at Pharmaceutics International Inc
Ivy Grimm, Masters May 2009
Thesis: “The Quality Control of Ethyl Glucuronide Standards”
Loryn Rachel Keating, Ph.D defended December 2008
Dissertation: “Indirect Pulsed Electrochemical Detection Following High-Performance Liquid Chromatography”
Swati Modi, Ph.D defended June 2006
Dissertation: “In Vitro Microdialysis Sampling for Monitoring Enzyme Reactions”
Currently at GSK
Stacy Gelhaus, Ph.D defended May 2005
Dissertation: “The Separation of Hairpins and Modified Nucleic Acids by Ion-Pairing Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography”
Currently a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Ronita Marple, Ph.D defended May 2005
Dissertation: “The Development of Photo-Assisted Electrochemical Detection for Analysis of Nitro Compounds”
Mark Olsen, M.S. May 2004
Thesis: “Adsorption-based Electrochemical Detection of Biomolecules at Noble Metal Electrodes”
Emily Davis, M.S. August 2003
Thesis: “The Development and Characterization of Copper Laminate Electrodes”
Christine M. Zook, Ph.D defended May 1998
Dissertation: “Microdialysis Sampling Coupled to High Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography- Pulsed Amperometric Detection for Analysis of Carbohydrates”
Xiaoming Li, M.S. January 1998
Thesis: “Pulsed Amperometric Detection of Phenyl- and Alkyl-Glycosides Following Reversed-Phase Chromatography”
George S. Owens, Ph.D defended May 1997
Dissertation: “Pulsed Electrochemical Detection of Organic Sulfur Compounds Following Separation by Microbore Higher Performance Liquid Chromatography or Capillary Electrophoresis”
Xiaodong Zhang, M.S. August 1995
Thesis: “Selective Detection of Thiols and Disulfides by Pulsed Electrochemical Detection Following Capillary Electrophoresis”
Undergraduate Students
Maddie Schuch, graduated May 2021
Currently a Phd Student in Chemistry at West Virginia University
Karis Barnett, graduated May 2021
Received Master in Chemistry from University of Michigan Dec 2022
Shirley Wolz, graduated May 2020
Currently a Med Student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine