The Kaplan Lab applies a combination of laboratory & field experimentation to study the impact of hydrological processes on environmental molecular chemistry. Results from our research are used to predict contaminant migration in the subsurface environment, environmental remediation, quantifying processes occurring at the water-solid interface, and the development of highly effective, low-cost sorbents for waste-stream and environmental engineering purposes. We incorporate traditional and advanced microscopy, spectroscopy, and computational methods in our research. For instruments not available at UGA, we routinely use instruments made available at various Department of Energy user facilities, such as synchrotron light sources (e.g., Advanced Photon Source (APS) and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL). More recent research has involved quantifying natural organic matter and metal interactions using ultra high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS, LD-ICP-MS), 1H- and 13C- heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR, size-exclusion chromatography, ATR-FTIR, hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), amino acids (HPLC), aromaticity (13C NMR) and ultrafiltration. We apply first principles from physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, genomics, surface/colloid chemistry, mineralogy, and radiochemistry to study biogeochemical processes at the water – surface interface at multiple scales. Our research funding has come primarily from DOE’s Office of Science, DOE’s Environmental Management, DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, DOE’s various regional offices, EPA, and a half dozen nuclear power plants.