principal investigator
Professor Rajan Chakrabarty
Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, University of Nevada, Reno
Faculty Fellow: Center for Aerosol Science and Engineering; McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences
Recent Honors:
Whitby Award, 2019, American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR)
Schmauss Award, 2019, Gesellschaft für Aerosolforschung (GAeF)
Global Environmental Change Early Career Award, 2018, American Geophysical Union
Goody Award, 2017, Electromagnetic Light Scattering Society (ELS)
NSF Career Award, 2015
POSTDOCS AND Graduate Students
Dr. Pai Liu (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Dissertation topic: Contemporary Problems in Aerosol Aggregation and Gelation
Publications from Group (11)
Gan, J., P. Liu, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2020). Deep learning enabled Lagrangian particle trajectory simulation, J. Aerosol Sci., 139, 105468Liu, P.; Heinson, W. R.; Sorensen, C. M.; Chakrabarty, R. K., Kinetics of sol-to-gel transition in irreversible particulate systems. Journal of Colloid & Interface Science, 2019, 550, 57-63. Heinson, W. R.; Heinson, Y. W.; Liu, P.; Chakrabarty, R. K., Breakdown of fractal dimension invariance in high monomer-volume-fraction aerosol gels. Aerosol Science & Technology, 2018, 1-13.Liu, P.; Heinson, W. R.; Sumlin, B. J.; Shen, K. Y.; Chakrabarty, R. K., Establishing the kinetics of ballistic-to-diffusive transition using directional statistics. Physical Review E, 2018, 97, 042102.Liu, P.; Heinson, W. R.; Chakrabarty R. K., Fractal scaling of soot packing density across five size decades. Aerosol Science & Technology, 2017, 51, 879-886.Heinson, W. R.; Liu, P.; Chakrabarty R. K., Fractal scaling of coated soot aggregates. Aerosol Science & Technology, 2017, 51, 12-19.Liu, P.; Chakrabarty, R. K., Sensitivity analysis of aggregate morphology on mass-mobility relationship and improved parameterizations. Aerosol Science & Technology, 2016, 50, 63-70.Liu, P.; Arnold, I. J.; Wang, Y.; Yu, Y.; Fang, J.; Biswas, P.; Chakrabarty, R. K., Synthesis of titanium dioxide aerosol gels in a buoyancy-opposed flame reactor. Aerosol Science & Technology, 2015, 49, 1232-1241.Wang, Y.; Liu, P.; Fang, J.; Wang, W. N.; Biswas, P., Kinetics of sub-2 nm TiO2 particle formation in an aerosol reactor during thermal decomposition of titanium tetraisopropoxide. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2015, 17, 147. Gan, J.; Liu, P.; Chakrabarty, R. K., Introducing a generative adversarial network model for Lagrangian trajectory simulation, Under review at Physics of Fluids, Preprint at ArXiv: 1901.03960Liu, P.; Gan, J.; Chakrabarty, R. K., Variational autoencoding the Lagrangian trajectories of particles in a combustion system, Under review at Journal of Aerosol Science, Preprint at ArXiv: 1811.11896
Ben Sumlin (4th year; NASA ESS Fellow)
Dissertation topic: Physicochemical and Optical Properties of Atmospherically Processed Brown Carbon Aerosol
Publications from Group (6)
Sumlin, B. J., A. Pandey, M. J. Walker, R. S. Pattison, B. J. Williams, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2017). Atmospheric Photooxidation Diminishes Light Absorption by Primary Brown Carbon Aerosol from Biomass Burning, Environmental Science & Technology Letters 4 (12), 540-545 Sumlin, B. J.; W. R. Heinson, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) Retrieving the aerosol complex refractive index using PyMieScatt: A Mie computational package with visualization capabilities. J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 205, 127-134.Sumlin B. J., C. Oxford, B. Seo, R. Pattison, B. J. Williams, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) Density and homogeneous internal composition of primary brown carbon aerosol Environmental Science & Technology 52 (7), 3982–3989, Sumlin B. J., Y. W. Heinson, R. Pattison, W. R. Heinson, W.M. Hao, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) UV–Vis–IR spectral complex refractive indices and optical properties of brown carbon aerosol from biomass burning, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 206, 392-398Liu, P., W. R. Heinson, B. J. Sumlin, K-Y. Shen, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) Establishing the kinetics of a ballistic-to-diffusive transition using directional statistics, Phys. Rev E. 97 (4), 042102 Tiwari, S., U.C. Dumka, A.S. Gautam, D.G. Kaskaoutis, A.K. Srivastava, D.S. Bisht, R.K. Chakrabarty, B.J. Sumlin, and F. Solmon (2017). Assessment of PM 2.5 and PM 10 over Guwahati in Brahmaputra River Valley: Temporal evolution, source apportionment and meteorological dependence, Atmos. Poll. Res., 8(1), 13-28
Girish Sharma (4th year; McDonnell Academy Scholar; jointly advised with Pratim Biswas)
Dissertation topic: Understanding Particle-Particle Interactions at High Temperatures in Free Molecular Regime
Publications from Group (3)
Sharma, G., Y. Wang, R. K. Chakrabarty, and P. Biswas (2019). Modeling simultaneous coagulation and charging of nanoparticles at high temperatures using the method of moments, J. Aerosol. Sci., 132, 70-82 Sharma, G., S. Dhawan, N. Reed, R. K. Chakrabarty, and P. Biswas (2019). Collisional growth rate and correction factor for TiO2 nanoparticles at high temperatures in free molecular regime J. Aerosol. Sci., 127, 27-37. Wang, Y., G. Sharma, C. Koh, V. Kumar, R. K. Chakrabarty, and P. Biswas (2017). Influence of Flame-Generated Ions on the Simultaneous Charging and Coagulation of Nanoparticles during Combustion. Aerosol Science and Technology 51 (7), 833-844 
Nishit Shetty (3rd year)
Dissertation topic: Resolving artifacts in optical and chemical characterization of organic carbon aerosol
Publications from Group (2)
Shetty, N., A. Pandey, S. Baker, W. M. Hao, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2019). Measuring Light Absorption by Organic Aerosols: Correction Factors for Solvent Extraction-Based Photometry Techniques, Atmos. Chem. Phys, 19 (13), 8817-8830 Pandey, A., N. J. Shetty, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2019). Aerosol light absorption from optical measurements of PTFE membrane filter samples: sensitivity analysis of optical depth measures, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12(2), 1365-1373 
Chenchong (Fred) Zhang (2nd year; McDonnell Academy Scholar)
Dissertation topic: TBD
Payton Beeler (1st year)
Dissertation topic: TBD
Phillip Johnson (5th year; Joint with Ben Kumber)
Dissertation topic: Soot Formation Modeling For Oxy-Combustion
Esther Koh (Masters of Science)
Thesis topic: TBD
alumni
Dr. Apoorva Pandey
Role: Phd Student: 2014-19
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University (Anderson Group)
Dissertation title: Toward improved understanding of Black and Brown Carbon radiative impacts over south Asia
Publications from Group (9)
Shetty, N., A. Pandey, S. Baker, W. M. Hao, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2019). Measuring Light Absorption by Organic Aerosols: Correction Factors for Solvent Extraction-Based Photometry Techniques, Atmos. Chem. Phys, 19 (13), 8817-8830 Pandey, A., N. J. Shetty, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2019). Aerosol light absorption from optical measurements of PTFE membrane filter samples: sensitivity analysis of optical depth measures, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12(2), 1365-1373 Pandey, A., Patel, S., Pervez, S., Tiwari, S., Yadama, G., Chow, J. C., Watson J.G., Biswas P. & Chakrabarty, R. K (2017). Aerosol emission factors from traditional biomass cookstoves in India: Insights from field measurements, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions. Pandey, A., & Chakrabarty, R. K. (2016). Scattering directionality parameters of fractal black carbon aerosols and comparison with the Henyey–Greenstein approximation, Optics Letters. Pandey, A., Pervez, S., & Chakrabarty, R. K. (2016). Filter-based measurements of UV–vis mass absorption cross sections of organic carbon aerosol from residential biomass combustion: Preliminary findings and sources of uncertainty, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer. Pandey, A., Chakrabarty, R. K., Liu, L., & Mishchenko, M. I. (2015). Empirical relationships between optical properties and equivalent diameters of fractal soot aggregates at 550 nm wavelength, Optics Express. Pandey, A., Sadavarte, P., Rao, A. B., & Venkataraman, C. (2014). Trends in multi-pollutant emissions from a technology-linked inventory for India: II. Residential, agricultural and informal industry sectors, Atmospheric Environment. Pandey, A., & Venkataraman, C. (2014). Estimating emissions from the Indian transport sector with on-road fleet composition and traffic volume, Atmospheric Environment. Sumlin, B. J., Heinson, Y. W., Shetty, N., Pandey, A., et al. (2018). UV–Vis–IR spectral complex refractive indices and optical properties of brown carbon aerosol from biomass burning, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer. Sumlin, B. J., Pandey, A., Walker, M. J., Pattison, R. S., Williams, B. J., & Chakrabarty, R. K. (2017). Atmospheric photooxidation diminishes light absorption by primary brown carbon aerosol from biomass burning, Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Patel, S., Li, J., Pandey, A., et al. (2017). Spatio-temporal measurement of indoor particulate matter concentrations using a wireless network of low-cost sensors in households using solid fuels, Environmental Research. Chakrabarty, R. K., Gyawali, M., Yatavelli, R. L., Pandey, A., et al. (2016). Brown carbon aerosols from burning of boreal peatlands: microphysical properties, emission factors, and implications for direct radiative forcing, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.Chakrabarty, R. K., Gyawali, M., Yatavelli, R. L. N., Pandey, A., et. Al. (2015). Dominance of brown carbon in aerosol emissions from burning of boreal peatlands, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions.
Dr. William Heinson
Role: Postdoctoral Fellow (2015-19)
Current Position: Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Publications from Group (9)
Liu, P., W. R. Heinson, C. M. Sorensen, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2019). Kinetics of sol-to-gel transition in irreversible particulate systems, J. Colloid. Interface. Sci., Chakrabarty, R. K. and W. R. Heinson (2018). Scaling Laws for Light Absorption Enhancement Due to Nonrefractory Coating of Atmospheric Black Carbon Aerosol Phys. Rev. Lett; 121 (21), 218701 Heinson, Y.W., P. Liu., W. R. Heinson, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018). Breakdown of fractal dimension invariance in high monomer-volume-fraction aerosol gels, (Aerosol Research Letter) in Aerosol Sci. Tech., 52 (9), 953-956 Liu, P., W. R. Heinson, B. J. Sumlin, K-Y. Shen, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) Establishing the kinetics of a ballistic-to-diffusive transition using directional statistics, Phys. Rev E. 97 (4), 042102 Sumlin B. J., Y. W. Heinson, R. Pattison, W. R. Heinson, W.M. Hao, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) UV–Vis–IR spectral complex refractive indices and optical properties of brown carbon aerosol from biomass burning, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 206, 392-398 Sumlin, B. J.; W. R. Heinson, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) Retrieving the aerosol complex refractive index using PyMieScatt: A Mie computational package with visualization capabilities. J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 205, 127-134. Liu, P., W. R. Heinson, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2017). Fractal scaling of soot packing density across five size decades, Aerosol Science and Technology 51 (7), 879-886 Heinson, W. R., P. Liu, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2017). Fractal scaling of coated soot aggregates, Aerosol Sci. Tech., 51 (1), 12-79 Heinson, W. R. and R. K. Chakrabarty (2016). Fractal morphology of black carbon aerosol enhances absorption in the thermal infrared wavelengths, Opt. Lett., 41 (4), 808-811 
Dr. Yuli Wang Heinson
Role: Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-19)
Current Position: Parental Leave
Publications from Group (3)
Heinson, Y. W., C. M. Sorensen, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2019). Portable device to determine particle asymmetry parameter, Opt. Express, 27(7), 10152-10158Heinson, Y.W., P. Liu., W. R. Heinson, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018). Breakdown of fractal dimension invariance in high monomer-volume-fraction aerosol gels, (Aerosol Research Letter) in Aerosol Sci. Tech., 52 (9), 953-956Sumlin B. J., Y. W. Heinson, R. Pattison, W. R. Heinson, W.M. Hao, and R. K. Chakrabarty (2018) UV–Vis–IR spectral complex refractive indices and optical properties of brown carbon aerosol from biomass burning, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 206, 392-398
Yang Yu
Role: Master of Science (2015-17)
Current Position: Sr. Associate Production Scientist at MilliporeSigma
Thesis title: Development and Evaluation of a Near-infrared (1047 nm) Photoacoustic-Nephelometer Spectrometer for Detection and Optical Characterization of Black Carbon Aerosol
Bongjin Seo, M. Eng, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Graduated August 2016; continued as a lab manager till July 2017. Current Position: PhD candidate, Mechanical Enginerring, UC Irvine.
Thomas Hildebrand, Dual BS/MS program, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, WUStL. Research Assistant Spring 2015 - 2017. Current Position: MBA student at Olin Business School
Ian J. Arnold, M.S., Lab Manager (2014-15), Current Position: PhD candidate, College of Optics, University of Arizona.
Dr. Madhu Gyawali, Postdoctoral fellow, Desert Research Institute, 2013-14, Current Position: Asst. Professor, Department of Physics, San Jacinto College, Texas.
Mark A. Garro, NSF Graduate Research Fellow, 2011-12, Current Position: Chief Technology Officer, Octane Lending, New York
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Theodore Cohen (pursuing PhD at U. of Washington) 2014-2015
Zhihong Guo (pursuing PhD at Stanford U.) 2014-2016
Bo Huang (Engineer @ Microsoft Research) 2014-2016
Saif R. Kazi (REU; pursuing PhD at Carnegie Mellon U.) 2015
Amruthesh Thirumalaiswami (REU; pursuing PhD at UPenn) 2016
Blake Actkinson (pursuing PhD at Rice U.) 2015-2017
Stone Yan (Educational consultant) 2015-2017
M. Naveen (REU; IIT Gandhinagar) 2018
Akshil Ashar (REU; IIT Gandhinagar) 2019
Christopher Walker (Engineer @ Eastman Chemicals) 2018-19
Alice Hsu (pursuing M.S. in UC Berkeley) 2018-19