At the Aerosol and Particulate Research Laboratory (APRL), our research spans the intersection of environmental health, aerosol science, and cutting-edge analytical methods. We focus on understanding the sources, transformations, and impacts of airborne particles—ranging from biological aerosols to pollution-derived particulates—through laboratory experiments, field measurements, and computational modeling.
We are advancing methods to detect, sequence, and characterize biological aerosols present in the atmosphere. By extracting and sequencing airborne DNA (airDNA), we aim to identify the diversity of microorganisms present in the air and better understand their potential ecological and health impacts. Our work contributes to environmental monitoring, epidemiology, and the development of rapid bio-surveillance systems.
Our team is actively studying the electrostatic specification of air filters to improve air pollution mitigation strategies, particularly under extreme conditions such as wildfire smoke events. This research focuses on understanding how electrostatic filters perform when exposed to high particulate loads and reactive gases, providing insights for the development of more resilient air filtration systems for public health protection.
- We are pursuing multiple projects to understand and control the spread of biological aerosols. One of these projects, Viability Preservation in Sampling, investigates how to maintain the viability of sampled virus aerosols using a humidified, coated filter system and the Viable Virus Aerosol Sampler (VIVAS), thereby improving recovery efficiency and accuracy in pathogen detection.
- Aerosol Sequencing and Concentration System – Engage in designing and improving the BioCasecade, a specialized aerosol concentration and sequencing system that uses impaction-based collection for downstream genetic analysis of airborne pathogens.
- CFD Simulation of Aerosol Growth – Conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to model aerosol size amplification via condensational growth, enabling us to predict and optimize sampling and control technologies.
We are investigating the
complex interactions between biotic and abiotic components in indoor aerosols. This includes studying how non-toxic levels of biological agents, such as mold spores in consumer products like deodorants, can
influence overall aerosol toxicity when combined with chemical constituents. Using various lung cell models, we explore the cellular and molecular pathways impacted by these interactions, providing critical data for product safety evaluation and indoor air quality guidelines.
