This Research Opportunities for Women Research Planning Grant is in the general area of Analytical and Surface Chemistry and in the subfields of chromatography and mass spectrometry. During the twelve month period beginning 1 July 1988, Professor Dietrich will draw upon her considerable expertise in both chromatography and mass spectrometry to develop new skills in hybrid liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) techniques which she will apply to the study of various environmental problems, particularly those relating to hazardous waste management. The planned skill development activities include both independent work and also collaborative research at the National Institute for Environmental Health Science. These activities should contribute to Professor Dietrich's establishing a competitive independent research program in her laboratory at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the tenure of this Research Planning Grant award. The research area that will be explored in this project, namely the development and application of LC/MS techniques for the analysis of multicomponent environmental samples, is broadly important to both basic science and public health. The results of this work could impact significantly on the fields of environmental chemistry and mass spectrometry, as well as upon the health sciences; it could lead to the identification of new technology that is necessary for the disposal and treatment of hazardous waste.
