“Research is formalized curiosity. it is poking and prying with a purpose.” - Zora Neale hurston

The Gallagher Group

Hello! Thank you for visiting our laboratory’s web page. We are excited to share with you who we are and what we do. The Gallagher Lab is a bioanalytical research lab focusing on using mass spectrometry (MS) to study the world around and within us. Our long-term research goals include developing and utilizing analytical tools that will allow us to characterize molecular changes in complex biological systems that occur during disease progression. We have started this pathway with a thorough exploration of the fundamentals in analysis of biomolecules utilizing mass spectrometry, ion mobility, liquid chromatography, and molecular modeling. We apply our analytical chemistry skillset to biochemical problems to develop new methodologies to analyze the chemical structure, conformation, and biological interactions of multiple classes of biomolecule.

Currently, we are utilizing MS to study carbohydrates and proteins. Both classes of molecules play a large role in biological function and can reveal a story of pathways and environments if analyzed. In our lab, we have looked in depth at 1) how carbohydrates ionize – transition from solvated molecules into gaseous ions – when undergoing MS analysis, 2) how we can utilize this process to perform labeling reactions to differentiate carbohydrate isomers and to study carbohydrate structures, 3) how we can analyze proteins via MS and ion mobility while maintaining a biologically relevant structure, and 4) how we can classify and characterize complex samples of proteins based off of individual protein’s amino acid sequence and post translational modifications. For more information about these projects, please visit the research tab or view some of our publications.

                In addition to performing research, our lab is also a training ground for students, both undergraduate and graduate, for life after school. In this space, we take time to develop skills that will be helpful in all walks of life. This includes working on our ability to professionally communicate through oral and written formats, learning how to navigate literature, learning how to be a mentor, and how to network at events such as conferences. By intentionally addressing and working on these skills, we believe that we can better develop as individuals to be able to interact in meaningful ways with those around us and that we can more directly share our research.

                Finally, we also take time to celebrate our accomplishments and spend time together. Lab work can get stressful and finding ways to decompress is essential. Check out our news tab to see all the things we have been up to from personal accomplishments to our latest trip to the rage room.

Recent Work From Our Lab

Contact

Location

101 Bagby Ave.
Waco, TX 76706
 

Contact Info

Elyssia_Gallagher@baylor.edu
(254) 710-2783