Integrating Field Studies and Laboratory Experiments to Investigate the Processes and Climate Impacts of Atmospheric Pollutants

Atmospheric pollutants, ranging from traditional organic aerosols to emerging contaminants such as nanoplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), play critical roles in air quality, climate forcing, and environmental health. Yet their sources, atmospheric transformations, transport pathways, and impacts remain poorly constrained. My research integrates state-of-the-art laboratory experiments with innovative field campaigns, including the deployment of a mobile laboratory equipped with real-time mass spectrometry, to probe the multiphase processes that govern pollutant evolution in the atmosphere. By bridging controlled experiments with complex atmospheric environments, my group provides a framework that links molecular-level transformations of pollutants to their climate-relevant properties, such as aerosol–cloud interactions. This integrative approach not only advances fundamental atmospheric chemistry but also defines new research directions at the intersection of Earth system science, climate, and environmental health, enabling predictions of pollutant impacts on a rapidly changing planet.