His research focuses on transport properties of polymers and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Archer is also interested in applications of hybrid materials for energy storage and carbon capture technologies. During the period 1993-94 he was a postdoctoral member of the technical staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and has been recognized with several awards, including the AICHE MAC Centennial Engineer Award, James & Mary Tien Excellence in Teaching Award, the National Science Foundation Early Career Award, and DuPont & 3M Young Professor Awards. He earned a B.S. in chemical engineering (polymer science) from the University of Southern California in 1989 and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Stanford University in 1993.