The research projects in my group utilize a combination of analytical instrumentation and methodology to study topics relevant to bioanalytical, environmental, and green chemistry. We are particularly interested in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). RTILs are a class of non-molecular solvents composed entirely of ions that exist as liquids at ambient temperature. A large variety RTILs containing different cations and anions have already been synthesized and partially characterized. By controlling the functionality and chirality of the cation and/or anion, achiral and chiral RTILs with desired properties (i.e., viscosity, thermal stability, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity) can easily be attained. The study of micellar structure and catalysis in RTILs as well as using RTILs to aid in chemical separations and extractions is of interest. The use of nanomaterials including quantum dots as bio-molecule tags and nanoparticles comprises another exciting component of our research program. In addition, we are interested in using modified/grafted forms of mesoporous silicas as stationary phase material in liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC). To accomplish this work, we utilize all major analytical instrumentation including liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Characterization of our materials is commonly performed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as well as fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy.