My research interests are around heterogenous atmospheric chemistry. I’m interested in how small molecules adsorb to the surface of atmospheric aerosols and change their physical and chemical properties. Specifically, I am most interested in how volatile organic compounds (VOC) alter the ability of an aerosol to act as a cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) by forming an organic layer on the surface of an inorganic particle. In my laboratory we use the Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) technique as well as a custom manifold to quantify VOC/water up-take on powdered solids that serve as a proxy for atmospheric aerosols. The custom manifold can create a synthetic atmospheric environment that mimics Earth’s atmosphere and was built entirely by undergraduate students! My research philosophy is centered on putting students in the driver’s seat by allowing them to push buttons, turn wrenches, modify existing procedures, and collect significant data toward our research goals.