This Research Opportunities for Women Career Advancement Award is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry. Dr. Rebecca O'Malley of the Chemistry Department of the University of South Florida will modify and upgrade existing equipment to convert it to a laser desorption linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer and will undertake a study to characterize some conducting polymers. Preparative work on the polymers, conducting measurements, and optical microscopy will be carried out in collaboration with Dr. J. Fernandez, also at the University of South Florida, but laser desorption studies to determine molecular weight distributions will be carried out in Dr. O'Malley's laboratory. Dr. O'Malley will also obtain instruction and consultation regarding this technique in laboratories of three experts in the field. Establishment of a program to characterize polymeric materials, including biopolymers, is expected from this grant so that Dr. O'Malley will be able to extend her research interests to solids as well as gaseous species.
