Research Interests:
Physical, Analytical and Atmospheric/Environmental Chemistry
Research Projects:
Research in the Johnson group focuses on the study of airborne particulate matter
(PM).
Research is divided into two main projects:
- To understand the influence of molecular self-assembly within aerosol particles and
thin films and its impact on their chemical reactivity and the uptake of toxic compounds.
This project will help us to understand why cooking emissions have a longer lifetime
in the environment than is predicted.
- To develop analytical techniques to assess the dynamic changes in aerosol particle
properties, such as hygroscopicity, phase state, and viscosity.
Physical properties of aerosol particles directly influence the particles reactivity
and persistence in the atmosphere. Understanding these properties and how they change
as the particles undergo photochemical aging is important for predicting the climate
effects and for accurately representing the chemistry of these particles in large
climate models.
Major methods: infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and microscopy.
