Air Quality Systems Engineering at UC Riverside addresses critical challenges in urban and regional air quality, climate change, and sustainable ground and marine transportation through an integrated experimental and theoretical approach. This research area combines cross-cutting laboratory and field experiments, advanced chemical analysis, modeling, and engineering principles to understand and mitigate air pollution impacts on human health and the environment.

Current Research Areas:

• Mechanistic Studies of Secondary Organic Aerosol Production from Biomass Burning Derived Precursors – Investigating the chemical pathways and formation mechanisms of aerosols to improve predictive models.
• Studies to Better Understand the Measurement and the Physicochemical Properties of Non-Exhaust Emissions for Mobile Sources - Development of novel sampling systems and measurement protocols for brake- and tire-wear emissions from light-duty vehicles, trucks, and locomotives
• Air Quality Impacts from Vehicles and Engines Operated with Low-Carbon and Zero-Carbon Fuels - Investigating the environmental effects of liquid and gaseous low-carbon fuels and hydrogen in transportation engines and for power generation.
• Airborne Microplastic Pollution from Vehicle Tires - Combining experimental and analytical techniques to characterize microplastic air pollution from real-world vehicle tire-wear.
• Emissions from Maritime Transportation - Investigation of clean fuels and advanced control technologies to reduce emission exposures from maritime transportation. 
• Integrating Detailed Chemical Measurements and Predictive Biomass Burning Models – Combining high-resolution measurements with advanced modeling to assess air quality impacts from biomass burning events.
• Testing Applicability Limits of Aqueous pKa Values for Bulk and Surface Nanoparticle Processes – Exploring chemical properties at the nanoscale to refine atmospheric chemistry models and improve air quality predictions.

Meet Our Faculty