Welcome

Welcome to the Aerosol Photochemistry Group. We are located on the beautiful campus of the University of California, Irvine in the Department of Chemistry. Our laboratory was opened in early 2003 under the direction of Prof. Sergey Nizkorodov. Since that time, it has become an integral part of the UCI Chemistry graduate programs in analytical, physical, and atmospheric chemistry. A number of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students from our group have been involved in cutting-edge research projects in the area of organic aerosol chemistry. Our laboratory is a part of NSF-sponsored AirUCI Institute (Atmospheric Integrated Research Using Chemistry at Interfaces) established in 2004 with a goal of improving scientific understanding of processes taking place at the air-water atmospheric interfaces.

Our Research Focus

The majority of the Aerosol Photochemistry Group members investigate mechanisms of photochemical processes taking place in organic aerosol particles. More specifically, we use cavity ring-down spectroscopy, chemical ionization mass spectrometry, quartz crystal microbalance, gas chromatography, and other state-of-the-art techniques to study photodegradation of model secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced by oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds. Other important areas of research include hygroscopicity of amphiphilic nanoparticles and indoor air chemistry. Please refer to our research section for more details.

Announcements

Aeronews: Chris Harmon receives the 2009 Rowland Award for his graduate research achievments. His award is announced at the 2009 departmental Lee event. Joshua Klobas receives the 2009 ACS Analytical Chemistry Award. Tran Nguyen receives the the 2009 Chemistry Department's First Year Teaching Assistant Award. Congratulations to everyone!

Graduate/Postdoctoral Research: If you are interested in joining our group as a physical, analytical, atmospheric, or ChaMP graduate student please contact the Aerosol Photochemistry Group principal investigator, Prof. Nizkorodov. To enroll in one of these programs, you will have to apply to graduate school at UCI. The group currently has three graduate students, Adam Bateman, Christopher Harmon, and Tran Nguyen, and one postdoctoral researcher, Dr. David Bones. There are no postdoctoral position openings at the moment.

Undergraduate/Highschool Research: Undergraduate students are welcome to do their undergraduate research projects in Aerosol Photochemistry Group on on a space available basis. Internship opportunities for taleneted independent high school students also exist. If you are interested in such an opportunity please review this information and then contact Prof. Nizkorodov well in advance. The usual mechanism is enrollment in either Chem 180, H180, or 199. All 2009-10 positions have already been filled. The following students are currently working in the lab: Joshua Klobas, Kathy Kim, Lucas Nguyen, John Morrison and Zoe Cabral.