For the past few years my research has focused on environmental applications of analytical chemistry through participation in Furman's River Basins Research Initiative (RBRI). Using a variety of analytical techniques including inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), as well as chromatographic approaches such as gas chromatography and liquid chromatography with mass spectral detection (GC-MS and LC-MS), we are able to provide highly sensitive chemical profiles of surface and wastewater samples collected throughout Upstate, SC. In conjunction with other geochemical, GIS and biological data collected through the RBRI consortium, this facilitates analysis of the impacts of urban development and associated effects of non-point source pollutants throughout the region. I also supervise students working in the area of transition metal/DNA interaction (see research descriptions of J. Wheeler and N. Kane-Maguire). Here, our principal focus is characterizing the strength, site, mode and stereoselectivity of DNA binding for transition metal complexes that have been developed to behave as photocleavage agents with DNA. Techniques used in this assessment include equilibrium dialysis, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism and LC-MS.
In addition to supervising students involved in research and teaching departmental courses, I have served as the Department's liaison to local industries for the past 13 years, providing laboratory analysis and support across the broad range of Furman's analytical capacities. In the fall of 2005, I will assume an additional role as provided by Furman's NIH-INBRE award as an Instrumentation Specialist in support of biomedical research efforts conducted in the Departments of Chemistry, Biology and Psychology. This position will include maintaining primary pieces of shared instrumentation used by INBRE Target faculty (such as the LC-MS system housed in Chemistry), faculty and student training, and method development and data acquisition.