Murphy’s research interests center around taking advantage of the unique properties of nano-materials. The small size is useful for developing portable multiplexed sensors for the measurement of multiple analytes with the same device. Individual sensors can be developed for measurement in confined volumes (i.e., inside cells). In an ongoing process nano-technology is being incorporated into lower- and upper-level chemistry courses to give students some understanding of this growing field. As this research is an application of visible light spectroscopy, knowledge in this area is also being used to develop nondestructive methods for studies in art and archaeology.