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Valentina Aquila, Assistant Professor

I am an associate professor in Environmental Science at American University. I use Earth System models to understand the role of atmospheric aerosols in the Earth's system, with a focus on the stratosphere. I received a master in Physics from the University of Genoa, Italy, and a PhD in Meteorology from the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. I was a postdoctoral researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and John Hopkins University before joining American University in 2017. 

Researchers

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D. Andrew Reed

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

Alumni

Adebimpe Rasak-Usman - MS Environmental Science 2024

Impact of the Dulles airport on local PM2.5 concentrations

Samaria (Mari) Jackson - BS Environmental Science 2026

Calibration of PurpleAir air quality monitors

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

Kira Fontana - BS Biology 2022

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

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

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