Our research lay at the interface of analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, bioengineering, and surface science. We apply advanced instrumental methods to modify and characterize both biological and materials surfaces in several distinct projects. In some cases, this involves the construction of novel instrumentation. Other cases involve the use of advanced instrumentation located in our laboratory, in UIC’s centralized instrumentation facility known as the Research Resources Center, or in synchrotron radiation research user facilities such as the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Many of these experimental methods involve photon, ion, or cluster interactions with gaseous molecules or solid surfaces that lead to photoionization, photoemission of electrons, sputtering of material from surfaces, or deposition of material onto surfaces.