Welcome to the home page of Joel Baker's research group.

In January, 2008 I will join the faculty of the University of Washington Tacoma as the Port of Tacoma Chair in Environmental Science, Professor, and Science Director of the Center for Urban Waters. My research group will center on urban environmental issues, focusing on stormwater, contaminated sediment processes, and atmospheric organic chemistry. I am currently recruiting graduate students to begin their studies at UW beginning in Summer or Fall, 2008—please contact me for more information.

Until December 2007, we are located at the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Maryland. We study the physical, chemical, and biological processes that control the transport of man-made organic chemicals in the environment. Our approach is to conduct detailed field studies that employ sensitive sampling and analytical techniques to measure levels and flows of chemicals between the atmosphere, surface waters, sediments, soils, and biota. Specific laboratory experiments under well-controlled conditions are also conducted in support of these field programs. Process-based mathematical models underlie and integrate these studies. Graduate students in our laboratory receive training in advanced analytical chemistry techniques, multi-media environmental transport modeling, and field research methods. Generally, students have strong undergraduate training in physical and/or biological sciences and are enrolled in the Environmental Chemistry Area of Specialization within the University of Maryland Marine, Environmental, and Estuarine Sciences Graduate Program.