People

Coty Jen is an NSF AGS Postdoctoral Fellow in the Goldstein Group. She is interested in molecular-level speciation of aerosol particles using two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to electron impact or vacuum ultra violet high resolution time of flight mass spectrometer. She is currently examining organic carbon and organic nitrogen species of biomass burning particles from a wide variety of woods and grasses at various stages of decomposition for specific fuel type tracers. In addition, oxidized samples of biomass burning emissions are being analyzed to identify tracers linked to specific stages of atmospheric oxidation.

Coty's graduate work In the McMurry group focused on atmospheric nucleation, the formation of stable particles from gas-phase sulfuric acid and amines. She specialized in measuring and modeling the acid-base reactions of atmospheric nucleation which take place in minute concentrations (pptv). Particular focus was made on understanding and improving current instrumentation for measuring freshly formed particles in the 1 nm diameter size range. These instruments include atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer and particle sizer and counter.