Matthew J. Tucker

Matthew J. Tucker is a Professor of Chemistry and Graduate Director of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno. He serves as Scientific Co-Director for the Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology and leads the Tucker Research Group, focusing on ultrafast laser spectroscopy and biophysical dynamics. His lab develops advanced 2D IR spectroscopic techniques to study structural evolution in biomolecules, with applications in drug discovery, protein folding, and understanding energy dissipation in extreme environments like desert lichens.

• Employing femtosecond laser pulses to explore IR spectroscopic properties
• Investigating magnetism and energy dissipation in small molecules
• Developing infrared markers as spectroscopic rulers for structural analysis

His research bridges experimental laser-based methods with theoretical frameworks like molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics. Students in his group engage with modern ultrafast laser techniques and traditional spectroscopies, including circular dichroism, absorption, fluorescence, and vibrational spectroscopy.

Recent publications highlight his group's work on hydration shell dynamics, UV protection in lichens, and molecular sensors for viscosity. Research themes span biophysics, environmental science, and quantum chemistry, with a focus on atomic-level insights into disease mechanisms and energy-related materials.