Major(s): Animal Science and Neuroscience
Class Year: 26
High School: McCook Senior High School
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Dulin
Proposed URS Thesis Title: Testing the co-dependence of glial derived neurotropic factor and glial receptor protein alpha-1 in the mediation of peripheral nerve growth in mouse DRGs.
Research Focus: Cellular Neuroscience, Stem Cell Therapy, Spinal Cord Injury
Other Projects and Publications: Aceves M, Tucker A, Chen J, Vo K, Moses J, Amar Kumar P, Thomas H, Miranda D, Dampf G, Dietz V, Chang M, Lukose A, Jang J, Nadella S, Gillespie T, Trevino C, Buxton A, Pritchard AL, Green P, McCreedy DA, Dulin JN (2023). Developmental stage of transplanted neural progenitor cells influences anatomical and functional outcomes after spinal cord injury in mice (2023).
Communications Biology 6(1): 544. PMID: 37208439. Tucker A, Baltazar A, Vo K, Thomas H, Tandon A, Moses J, Singletary B, Gillespie T, Smith A, Pauken A, Nadella S, Pitonak M, Letchuman S, Jang J, Totty M, Jalufka F, Aceves M, Blackmon H, McCreedy DA, Dulin JN. Synaptic and functional connectivity of transplanted neural progenitor cells with locomotor circuitry following spinal cord injury. In preparation.
Organizations & Programs: Undergraduate Research Ambassadors, Texas A&M Pre-Medical Society, B.R.A.I.N.S., Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, University Honors Fellow, Fightn' Texas Aggie Ranch Horse Team, Fall Leadership Conference Director
Activities: Leather working, Running, Horse Shows
Awards: Undergraduate Research Scholar, Gathright Award for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Freshman Nominee
Experience: Presentations, Data Analysis, Inter-lab collaboration
Years Experience: 2
Howdy! My name is Tucker Gillespie and I am an Animal Science and Neuroscience double major from McCook, Nebraska. I grew up the child of two former students from Texas A&M with my father having attend vet school at A&M as well as his undergraduate. Watching the medical aspect of veterinary science taught me the basics of biology, but I always knew I was much more interested in human medicine rather than veterinary medicine. Nevertheless, I have chosen the unique path of a double major here at A&M in order to gain experience surrounding medical science from multiple points of view.
While I intend to practice medicine, I have always had a passion to understand quality research and help bridge the gap between basic science research and eventual clinical viability or clinical trials. Getting involved in research has allowed me to build on that passion. Not only am I able to have a role in current research, but I have been able to understand how to form research questions while keeping the clinical viability in mind, so that the results can be utilized in the medical field as quickly as possible. I intend to attend medical school and specialize in neurosurgery, so doing research surrounding spinal cord injury and nerve regeneration has taught me invaluable information about the field itself and where technology is headed in future years. Beyond my roles in research, I am also a competing member of the Texas A&M Ranch Horse team. I grew up riding horses, and I have never stopped. The team travels across the state throughout the fall and spring semesters competing the judged events against other schools from the south and the midwest region. My time on the ranch horse team has allowed me to bridge the gap in many ways between students from traditional STEM majors and students more involved in the agriculture side of campus. Through that experience I have been able to educate many of my peers and develop amazing relationships in the process.