We are studying the presence of the manganese 2+ ion in aquatic plants. Currently we are examining aquatic plants taken from a local wetlands and mapping the manganese content with location in the wetland. We monitor the manganese ion using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, which is similar to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

We are just now beginning to develop a research program in laser spectroscopy. The department is well equipped with a nitrogen pumped dye laser, laser table, monochromator and light detection instrumentation and electronics. We plan to study small molecules that exhibit weak intermolecular attractive forces that cause short-range crystallization and clusters to form upon cooling.