people
Principal Investigator
BRENT WILLIAMS
Associate Professor
Dept. of Energy, Environmental, & Chemical Engineering
B.S. - Physics - Saint Cloud State University
PhD - Env. Sci., Policy, & Management - U of California - Berkeley
Postdoc - Mechanical Engineering - U of Minnesota
Postdoc - Chemical Engineering - Aerodyne Research Inc.
ORCID: 0000-0002-1423-6087
Professor Williams' research interests focus on the exploration of the composition, chemistry, and physical properties of Earth's atmosphere to determine the role of biogenic and anthropogenic gases and particles in Earth's climate system. Current projects include the study of particle formation from biomass combustion, indoor air composition, secondary particle formation from photochemical aging, and novel instrumentation development.
Research and Teaching Award Highlights include:
NSF CAREER Award
U.S. EPA Early Career Award
Department Chair's Outstanding Teaching Award
Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
PhD Students
Karolina Cysneiros de carvalho
PhD Candidate
Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering
B.S. Chemical Engineering ‘18, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil
Karol led the development and characterization of the ACT lab Semi-Volatile Thermal Desorption Aerosol Gas Chromatograph (SV-TAG). The instrument was deployed during the ALPACA field project in the winter of 2022 in Fairbanks, Alaska to understand aerosol phase partitioning in cold and dark conditions. During her PhD, she had also worked on the development of the VAPS instrument and was involved in a SOA formation and characterization ACT lab study, utilizing the VAPS, the AMS, the PAM reactor and the TDMA. Karol has also participated in the ACRONIM I study in 2016 as an ACT undergraduate researcher working with the CO monitor. Her main research interests revolve around chemical composition and physical characterization of indoor and outdoor aerosols.
Sohyeon Jeon
PhD Candidate
Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering
B.S. Environmental Engineering ‘17, Ewha Womans University, South Korea
M.S. Environmental Engineering ‘18, Ewha Womans University, South Korea
Sohyeon has worked to develop an open-access database for AMS and ACSM mass spectra comparison, and a new method to utilize PMF for GC-MS compound recognition and quantification. Sohyeon is currently leading Sloan Foundation funded laboratory studies on the phase partitioning dynamics of indoor air pollutants.
Tyler Cargill
PhD Candidate
Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas
Tyler is co-advised with the Jay Turner (WashU) research group. He is collaboratively working on an NIH-funded project to characterize indoor and outdoor air pollutants in Louisville, KY. Tyler has also worked on a community driven project to characterize the spatial distribution of particulate matter in St. Louis, MO, partnering with Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU).
Jhao-hong chen
PhD Candidate
Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering
M.S. in Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
B.S. in Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Jhao-Hong's research interests include aerosol science, atmospheric chemistry and physics, air quality management and public health, as well as air pollution control technologies. He currently works on NIH-funded modification and deployment of MOIRA instrument for sampling and analysis of VOCs and SVOCs indoor and outdoor in Louisville, KY and DOE-funded deployment of AMS and MOIRA in the Chicago area. Jhao-Hong has previously worked to develop an offline AMS chemical characterization method for ambient aerosol samples collected on filters. Before joining ACT Lab, Jhao-Hong worked as an associate technical specialist in the Department of Environmental Protection in a city government in Taiwan.
graduate student ALUMNI
Audrey Dang (Ph.D.) - 2023
Claire Fortenberry (Ph.D.) - 2020
Ben Sumlin (Ph.D.) - 2020
Christopher Oxford (Ph.D.) - 2019
Dhruv Mitroo (Ph.D.) - 2017
Yaping Zhang (Ph.D.) - 2016
Michael Walker (M.S.) - 2023
Raul Martinez (M.S.) - 2013
Peter Mellott (M.S.) - 2012
Ruijie Yu (M.Eng.) - 2015
Xiaochen Zuo (M.Eng.) - 2015
Mayura Patankar (M.Eng.) - 2014
OTHER RESEARCHERS AND VISITING Scholars
Ashutosh Nehete (2021): Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) (Advisors: Abhishek Chakraborty-Environmental Science and Engineering and IDP Climate Studies, and Chandra Venkataraman -Chemical Engineering)
Chris Oxford (2020): Postdoctoral Researcher
Wei Zhou (2016-2017): Tsinghua University, School of Environment (Advisor: Prof. Jingkun Jiang)
Qiongqiong Wang (2017-2018): Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Department of Chemistry & Division of Environment (Advisor: Prof. Jian Zhen Yu)
Munkhbayar Baasandorj (2014): Research Scientist
Undergraduate Researchers
CURRENT
Undergrad ALUMNI (yRS in lab)
Porter Abbey (2019)
Blake Actkinson (2016)
Jacob Belding (2020)
Martha Bransky (2022-2023)
Jin Hwan Choi (2012)
Emma Cotter (2013)
Izzi Clawson (2019)
Karolina Cysneiros De Carvalho (2017)
Guinter Dame Vogg (2022)
Austin Darmawan (2016)
Steven Dhawan (2013-2014)
Nathan Ferree (2013)
Ben (Dezhi) Fu (2012)
William Geyer (2013)
David Hagan (2012-2013)
Ashley Hesterberg (2017-2018)
Sydney Hornitschek (2019)
Remy Hutheesing (2018-2020)
Scarlett Li (2011-2012)
Riley Martell (2017-2018)
Michelle Molina (2017)
Chunsoo Park (2012)
Julianna Portelli (2016)
Purushottam Kumar (2017)
Charlie Rapp (2017)
Samantha Rosenthal (2012)
Connor Rutledge (2019)
Taylor Smith (2016)
Ana Solorio (2012)
Skyler Simon (2017-2019)
Jazmin Simpkins (2019)
Andrew Spitz (2011)
Emma Streff (2017)
Eric Sussman (2015)
William Swanson (2012)
Oscar Tapia (2019)
Jessica Ulan (2013)
Pietro Vannucci (2018)
Daniel Watson (2016)
Alec Wilcosky (2015)
Stone Yan (2015)
Ruijie Yu (2013-2014)
Bob Zhao (2018)
Xiaochen Zuo (2013-2014)