Frank's research program centers on: [i] Frank earned a Chemistry B.S. degree from the University of Redlands in 1982. He studied the chemistry of superoxide and DDT under the direction of Prof. Julian L. Roberts. He completed his Ph.D. in 1985 at Oklahoma State University in Prof. Linda B. McGown's laboratory. He conducted postdoctoral research with Prof. Gary M. Hieftje at Indiana University (1985-'87). In 1987, Frank joined the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (UB) Department of Chemistry as a tenure-track Assistant Professor; he is currently SUNY & UB Distinguished Professor and the A. Conger Goodyear Professor of Chemistry. In 1994/95 Frank completed a highly productive sabbatical stay with Prof. Charles A. Eckert at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Frank's research program centers on: hybrid materials for chemical sensing and anti-fouling coatings; [ii] molecular-level interactions in supercritical fluids and ionic liquids; and [iii] biodegradable platforms for accelerated wound restitution.