Dr. Tia L. Walker
Dr. Walker earned her B.S. in biology from Cleveland State University in 2005, after which she gained valuable experince in leading industry research before pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry. She completed her Ph.D. at The University of Akron in 2012 under the mentorship of Dr. Michael J. Taschner, specializing in synthetic organic chemistry. Building on this expertise, Dr. Walker has collaborated closely with Dr. Christopher J. Ziegler to apply her research towards bioinorganic chemistry and beyond.
In 2023, Dr. Walker took on the challenge of expanding undergraduate research in biochemistry, with a particular focus on drug development and design. As a recipient of the MCC Fellowship, she has forged significant collaborations, including with the University of SanDiego, for teaching of biochemical research and molecular techniques. Over the Summer of 2023, Dr. Walker advanced her expertise in protein expression and kinetics through work with Dr. Ellis Bell and Dr. Jessica Bell. In fall 2024, she began collaborating with Dr. Joseph Provost to integrate molecular techniques into the undergraduate research curriculum, including projects on bioinformatics, restriction subcloning, and site directed mutagenesis. Dr. Walker is committed to building on these foundations with plans to introduce CRISPR analysis on HEK cells with MDH knockouts for future student projects.
Dr. Walker passion for synthesis of small molecules and their applications has always been a driving force in her reserach. In addition to her academic research, she is a strong advocate for STEM based undergraduate research and has been a member of the Council on Undergraduate research since 2016. She also mentors student projects through the IN LSAMP and TRIUNFOS initiatives, furthering her commitment to supporting the next generation of scientists.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Walker enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her daughter and two Tonkinese kitties! She is passionate about cooking, traveling and exploring the outdoors, where she finds inspiration in nature.