Our research follows two main avenues. First, interdisciplinary studies to answer the questions, (i) how, and  (ii) why different metal oxides and engineered nanoparticles behave differently during their environmental processing under various environmentally relevant conditions, and (iii) what are the potential impacts of these processes on aquatic life. These studies will specifically focus on chemical and photochemical transformations and environmental processing of metal oxides in mineral dust, as a source of trace metals to aquatic life, and engineered nanoparticles. We are also interested in aqueous phase behaviors of these "processed" particles, in the presence of organic and inorganic pollutants. The second avenue is to develop catalytic systems and polymer composites, based on metal oxides and nanoparticles (including nanofibers), using insight from the above heterogeneous studies, to address various environmental issues in open water bodies, including increasing amounts of wastewater pollutants.

On going Projects:

1. Heterogeneous Chemistry and Photochemistry of Mineral Oxides and Engineered Nanoparticles in Atmospheric Aerosol.

2. Linking Biological Activity of Ocean Diatoms to Atmospheric Processing of Fe-containing Minerals: Molecular Level  Insights.

3. Fate, Transportation and Toxicological Effects of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products.

4. Charge-Separated Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs).

5. Toxicity, Mechanisms and Human Health Effects of Airborne Heavy Metals.