My graduate degree research involves both experimental and computational studies. My focus in on the study, optimization and development of environmental sensors. Experimentally, I am designing an intracellular sensor which can be used to determine the concentration of CO2 in the surrounding environment of aquatic life. Computationally, I am studying the change in spectroscopic properties of a current carbon dioxide sensor when degradation occurs and how this degradation could be slowed or ultimately eliminated. I am also studying the structural complexation which occurs when gold trimers are used to sense silver ion concentrations in aqueous environments.