Dr. Frank explores the molecular structure of high polymers and small amphiphilic molecules capable of self-organization through photostationary and transient fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface plasmon spectroscopy, and optical and atomic force microscopy. He studies polymers, fatty acids, surface coupling agents, dendrimers and liquid crystals at the air/water interface and in constrained geometries on solid substrates; organic/inorganic nanocomposites; and applications of polymers in microelectronics. He is the Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA).