Professor Hannemann's research involves the physical characterization of various surfactants and the effect of specific factors on those characteristics. The ultimate goal is the optimization of the surface active properties as they relate to the treatment of the respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. A secondary goal is the determination of the effects of aerosolization of surfactant and the use of this technique in the administration of the product to affected infants.

Research on skin reflectance as a non-invasive method of determination of serum bilirubin and hemoglobin. The goal is the development of a portable, hand-held device for use in the hospital, physician's office, and home.

Non-invasive diagnostic techniques: The goal is to focus the expertise of the vapors engineering disciplines on the area of non-invasive techniques. The initial effort is the skin reflectance work described above. A second project is the use of sonic technologies to detect and quantify various physiologic measurements.