Valentina Aquila,

Associate Professor and Chair of Environmental Science

I am an associate professor in Environmental Science at American University. I received a laurea (equivalent of MS in the U.S.) in Physics from the University of Genoa, Italy and a PhD in Meteorology from the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. Before joining American University, I was a postdoctoral researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and John Hopkins University.

Researchers

D. Andrew Reed

Representation of volcanic eruptions and pyroCbs in the MERRA-2 reanalysis and their impacts on data assimilation.

Undergraduate students

Dante Arminio

BS Environmental Science and BA Political Science 2026

Bias corrections of PM2.5 measurements from PurpleAir monitors.

Anya Dutta

BS Data Science 2028

Analysis of colocated black carbon and PM2.5 measurements in DC neighborhoods.

Susana Rodriguez-Alvarez

Master of Public Policy 2026

Air pollution and environmental justice.

Alumni

Adebimpe Rasak-Usman - MS Environmental Science 2024

Impact of the Dulles airport on local PM2.5 concentrations

After graduation: Environmental Analyst at SC&A

Samaria (Mari) Jackson - BS Environmental Science 2026

Calibration of PurpleAir air quality monitors

After graduation: MS student in Atmospheric Science at UCLS

Riddah Shaikh - BS Environmental Science 2025

Representation of volcanic plumes in the MERRA-2 reanalysis

Lynn Heller - Master in Global Environmental Politics 2022

Measurements of PM concentrations in Brentwood, Washington DC

After graduation: Arctic Policy Research Assistant II opportunity at Woodwell Climate Research Center

Duncan Hill - Master in Sustainability Management 2022

Carbon dioxide removal using biochar

After graduation: sustainability consultant

James Alvarez - BS Environmental Science 2022

Impacts of fire-driven thunderstorms (pyroCbs) on stratospheric composition

After graduation: Bridge Program intern at AGU

Stephanie Braddock - MS Environmental Science 2022

Local variations in PM concentrations

After graduation: PhD candidate at Rutgers University

Josh Rivera - Master of Public Policy 2022

PM concentrations in Buzzard Point, Washington DC

After graduation: Program Analyst at US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Emily Dolan - BA Environmental Studies 2022

Measuring PM on the AU campus with a portable air quality monitor

After graduation: Sustainability Assistant at Deloitte

Cole Hiser - BA Environmental Studies 2022

Impacts of roadside vegetation on PM concentrations

After graduation: Peace Corps Climate change volunteer

Kruttika Gopal - BA Environmental Studies 2023

Relationship between the density of air quality monitors, pollution, and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics.

After graduation: Environmental Protection Specialist at EPA

Laura Dudek - BA Environmental Studies 2024

Energy consumption of American University buildings.

Giorgio Doglioni - MS Physics (University of Trento, Italy) 2021

Impacts of pyroCb events on stratospheric meteorology.

After graduation: PhD candidate in environmental engineering at University of Trento

Joseph Minnich - BS Physics 2021

Identifying the signal of COVID-19 lockdowns on urban air quality using low-cost air quality sensors.

After graduation: Makerspace Manager at Coastal Carolina University

Kiran Fontana - BS Biology 2022

Classification of worldwide COVID-19 government responses and air quality impacts.

After graduation: Family Forest Carbon Program Coordinator at American Forest Foundation

Colleen Baldwin - BS Physics and Computer Science 2021

Latitudinal and seasonal dependence of the climate impacts of volcanic eruptions.

After graduation: Analyst at IMSG/NOAA

Fan Tai Bridges - BS Environmental Science 2021

Analysis of American University energy consumption data.

Nicki Mukherjee - BS Environmental Science and Mathematics 2018

Impacts of volcanic eruptions on the NASA GEOS Seasonal-to-Subseasonal Forecasting system.

After graduation: Laboratory Technician at VaLogic LLC