Research Summary

Dr. Wilson’s research applies analytical chemistry to the analysis of samples of forensic importance. She is particularly interested in doing microanalysis or the chemical identification and quantitative analysis of very small amounts of matter. Recent projects include the analysis of textile dyes in fibers by TLC and HPLC. The separation of textile dyes in fibers by TLC is routine in crime laboratories. However, the amount of each dye present is difficult to determine with TLC. HPLC has the advantage of quantitatively determining the amount of each dye and their ratio and can be a discriminating tool to determine if two fibers are of the same origin. Another recent project compared different solid phase extraction methods for the detection of benzodiazepines in urine samples. Following extraction samples were analyzed by GC-FID and HPLC-DAD-UV. The overall goal of this project was to determine the most sensitive method for benzodiazepine detection.

A second area of interest to Dr. Wilson is the application of analytical chemistry to investigations of environmental contamination. Most environmental forensic investigations occur at industrial plants and waste disposal sites where soil and/or groundwater have been impaired. Questions such as "Who caused the contamination? When did it begin? Who has been affected?" are generally the focus of this type of investigation. Environmental forensics involves the use of one or more investigative techniques to recreate the circumstances of an environmental event. The environmental event could be soil and/or groundwater contamination due to an accidental or intentional release. Alternatively, the release could be the unanticipated result of planned waste-management activities (such as placing wastes in a landfill). The five tools most frequently used in soil and groundwater forensics work are 1) site history review including historic aerial photography and mapping, 2) soil study, 3) groundwater flow analysis, 4) chemical fingerprinting and age-dating analysis and 5) groundwater modeling. It is common to combine several or all of these techniques in an investigation. Therefore these types of investigations involve chemists as well as geologist, geographers and other environmental scientists. Recently, Dr. Wilson was involved in raising funds for the purchase of a new atomic absorption instrument with a gas hydride generation unit which allows her to study low levels of heavy metal elements such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and chromium (Cr) all of which are stringently controlled.

Selected Publications

• “Crosslinking Studies of Supersaturated Lysozyme Solutions,” Clayton L. Hall, John R. Clemens, Amanda M. Brown, Haiqing Hu, Lori J. Wilson, accepted Acta Crystallographica Section D, Vol. 00, p. 00-00, 2005.
• “Quantification of DHK Production by Flavanone 3-Hydroxytransferase Using Capillary Electrophoresis,” Daniel Owens, Tracy Hale, Lori J. Wilson and Cecilia McIntosh, Plant Phytochemistry, Vol. 13, 69-74, 2002.
• "Lysozyme Self-Association In Aqueous NaCl at pH 4.0 and 20oC" Lori J. Wilson, Yeong Woo Kim and James K. Baird, Crystal Growth and Design, Vol. 2, No. 1, 41-43, 2002.
• “A Spectrophotometer Based Method for Crystallization Induction Time Period Measurements” Haiqing Hu, Xiayoe Yang and Lori J. Wilson, J. Crystal Growth, Vol 232/1-4, 86-92, 2001.
• “Simplex Optimization of Crystallization Conditions,” Bradley D. Prater, Steven Tuller and L. J. Wilson, Journal of Crystal Growth,Vol. 196, 674-684, 1999.
• “Development of a MultiChambered Diffusion Unit for Crystallization Kinetics,” Objectif Espace ‘97, Vol. 1, 333-338, 1998.
• “Salt–Induced Aggregation of Lysozyme Studied by Cross–Linking with Glutaraldehyde: Implications for Crystal Growth,” Fang Wang, John Hayter and Lori J. Wilson, Acta Crystallographica Section D, Volume 52, 901?]908, 1996.
• “Monomer Concentrations and Dimerization Constants in Crystallizing Lysozyme Solutions by Dialysis Kinetics,” L. J. Wilson, L. Adcock–Downey and M. L. Pusey, Biophysical Journal, Volume 71, 2123-2129, 1996.
• “Salt–Induced Aggregation of Lysozyme: Implications for Crystal Growth,” L. J. Wilson, NASA CR–196533, XLVIII, 1–5, 1994.
• “A Dialysis Technique for Determining Aggregate Concentrations in Crystallizing Protein Solutions.” L. J. Wilson, L. D. Adcock and M. L. Pusey, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 26, B113–B117, 1993.
• “Control of Solvent Evaporation in Lysozyme Crystallization,” L. J. Wilson and F. L. Suddath, Journal of Crystal Growth Vol. 116, 414–421, 1992.
• “Crystallization of Proteins by Dynamic Control of Evaporation.” L. J. Wilson, T. L. Bray and F. L. Suddath, Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol. 110, 142–147, 1991.
• “Determination of Monomer Concentrations in Crystallizing Lysozyme Solutions.” L. J. Wilson and Marc Lee Pusey, Journal of Crystal Growth, 122, 8–13, 1991.
  “Acrylamide and Iodide Fluorescence Quenching as a Structural Probe of Tryptophan Microenvironment in Bovine Lens Crystallins,” S. R. Phillips,L. J. Wilson and R. F. Borkman, Current Eye Research, Vol. 5, No. 8, 1986.