Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry
The expertise of the faculty in environmental division spans a broad range of environmentally
relevant chemical, analytical and modeling capabilities seldom found at a single location.
Researchers at the Department of Chemistry work in different environmental fields
while advancing science in a synergistic fashion and state-of-the-art instrumentation
is applied to study various environmental issues. One major focus of our research
is to enhance fundamental understanding of processes in different regimes of the atmosphere
including gas phase, aerosol particle surfaces, and polar stratospheric clouds. Atmospheric
Science faculty use observational data from routine observations, remote sensing and
field to study global modes of variability, contaminant transport and air quality,
and many other chemical and dynamical processes.
Our research further extends to understand ocean-atmosphere interactions, implications
of engineered nanomaterials, mechanisms underlying chemical fate, transport and transformation,
and molecular mechanisms of toxicity and adaptation. Another focus is the transport
and fate and toxicology of man-made organic chemicals, pesticides and pharmaceuticals,
and heavy metals in the environment. Strong connections are maintained with the Department
of Earth and Environmental Science, Bureau of Geology, Civil and Environmental Engineering
at New Mexico Tech and Los Alamos National Laboratory for Climate Studies enabling
a broad and deep graduate program in atmospheric science.
Faculty
Associate Professor
Accurate and rapid detection of pathogens in contaminated water and food samples is
necessary to prevent spread of certain infectious diseases. Dr. Piyasena and his research
group explore developing miniaturized bioassay systems utilizing microfluidics and
surface modification techniques for pathogen detection and environmental monitoring.
Associate Professor
Professor Rubasinghege and his group is centered on discovering hidden reaction pathways
on complex environmental surfaces including components of mineral dust, sea ice,
urban snow, and polar stratospheric clouds. His team deals with heterogeneous chemistry
and photochemistry of these processes in search of molecular level insights that are
essential to reveal global processes - climate, biogeochemistry and environmental
toxicology, implications of nanotechnology on environment, and find remediation to
environmental issues.