Aston Labs
We think of mass spectrometry as the science and technology of ions. Our interests therefore involve the construction and modification of mass spectrometers, fundamental studies of microdroplet chemistry as well as ion reactions and collision processes, and mass spectrometry applications to medicine, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and drug discovery.
News
11/2025 Welcome to Jia Chen and Karim Mohamed, our new group members!
11/2025 Brison, Lexie, Kit, and Joe have passed their preliminary exams! Congrats to our four new PhD Candidates!
08/2025 Our work in collaboration with the Forensic Science Center at LLNL has been highlighted both by LLNL and Purdue News!
07/2025 Prof. Cooks will be awarded the IUPAC Analytical Chemistry Medal which recognizes lifetime achievement in any field of analytical chemistry evidenced by sustained and outstanding research contributions, by active involvement in international partnerships and by commitment to the training of the next generation of analytical chemists. The award will be presented in the IUPAC World Chemistry Congress in Kuala Lumpur. See here the news release.
Follow us on 
Twitter for more group updates!
Research
A central current interest is in ambient ionization mass spectrometry and its application in drug discovery, tumor resection guidance, therapeutic monitoring in biofluids, and microorganism biotyping. Each of these experiments involves minimal sample workup. Another strong interest is in preparative mass spectrometry, both by soft landing ions onto surfaces in vacuum to generate new materials and also by collecting the products of accelerated reactions occurring in microdroplets. This accelerated chemistry also provides unique insights into the prebiotic origin of biomolecules and chirality. In situ analysis using miniature mass spectrometers coupled to ambient ion sources for environmental, clinical, and public safety applications is of interest. So, too, is online reaction monitoring and high-throughput experimentation.
Check out the Cooks Group Research Poster for the latest research!
Publications
Ambient ionization mass spectrometry in brain cancer diagnosis. Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Advances in the Clinical Lab. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2025.10.002
Carefully Count Your Ions! A Guide to Direct Quantitation with Mass Spectrometry. Journal of Chemical Education. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01153
Chemoselective cyclodesulfurization vs. dehydration enabled by aqueous microdroplet chemistry. Chemical Science. DOI: 10.1039/d5sc05557a
Drosophila Ahcy is a redox sensor that modulates gene expression to protect against light stress-induced retinal degeneration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mechanisms of ionization and of chemical reactions in charged microdroplets. Chemical Science (2025). DOI: 10.1039/d5sc04781a