Welcome to the Environmental Molecular Science Institute at the University of Notre Dame. The scientific mission of the Institute is to determine the effects of nano- and micro-particles (e.g., bacteria, natural organic matter, and mineral aggregates) on contaminant transport in geologic systems. The Institute blends the environmental science and engineering expertise and facilities of the university with those at Argonne, Sandia, and Oak Ridge National Laboratories, as well as at DuPont Engineering Technology. The Institute integrates traditional macroscopic and microscopic techniques with state-of-the-art molecular-scale approaches such as x-ray absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and molecular dynamics modeling. Students in the Institute experience a highly interdisciplinary research environment, and are encouraged to participate in the internship program, which enables graduate students to conduct research with our national laboratory and industry partners. The Institute maintains an extremely well-equipped analytical facility in Fitzpatrick Hall, and together with the Center for Environmental Science and Technology, offers powerful approaches for studying molecular-scale environmental geochemistry. In addition, EMSI is the focus for a range of innovative educational and outreach programs with a three-point purpose:
1. Disseminate state-of-the-art understanding of environmental geochemistry to an audience outside of the scientific community.
2. Provide broad, interdisciplinary educational experiences to a large number of undergraduate and graduate environmental molecular science students.
3. Train students from traditionally underrepresented groups in environmental molecular science.
