Dr. Boles' research is very cross-disciplinary but always involves either analytical biochemistry or fundamental biochemistry, whether it be a project in Proteomics (including Environmental Proteomics), Forensics, Protein Chemistry or Structural Biochemistry. Dr. Boles founded the Proteomics working group at Tennessee Tech in 2008 with funding provided by the National Science Foundation. Proteomics projects have included studies of the effects of the antibacterial compound triclosan on algae, the effect of gold nanoparticles on ciliates and the impact of selenomethionine and telluromethionine on E. coli.