Dr. Talbert's research and teaching focuses on health policy and pharmaceutical outcomes. His current projects include: 1) an inquiry, funded by the Centers for Disease Control, on the cost effectiveness of COX-II versus NSAIDS for chronically ill patient populations; 2) a study of the relationship between poverty and Type-2 diabetes in children; 3) an exploration of the political determinants and policy outcomes of placing fiscal control of Medicaid at the state level and Medicare at the federal level; and 4) a grant, which has been renewed for the seventh year, with the Kentucky Department of Medicaid to conduct financial modeling, utilization review, and quality improvement surveys of providers and patients.

His research has appeared in journals such as the American Journal of Political Science; American Political Science Review; the Journal of Health Policy, Politics, and Law; Political Research Quarterly; Legislative Studies Quarterly; the Journal of Politics; and Health Services Research.

Dr. Talbert has a joint appointment with the College of Pharmacy and the Department of Political Science. He was also Director of Graduate Studies for the MPA program for 2003-04.