AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
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Kaisen Lin, PhD Student at Virginia Tech Looking for Post-doc Positions
KAISEN LIN, Virginia Tech
Abstract Number: 102 Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers
Abstract My name is Kaisen Lin. Under the direction of Dr. Linsey Marr, I am completing my Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech with an expected degree date of May 2020. I am interested in post-doctoral positions.
My dissertation investigates the effects of relative humidity on the viability of airborne microorganisms. Understanding the viability of infectious agents at various environmental conditions is essential for control of infectious diseases transmission. In this interdisciplinary work, I looked into the relationship between relative humidity and the viability of airborne bacteria and viruses. To explain the observed patterns, I investigated the evaporation rate of droplets and the resulting changes in their solute concentrations over time at various relative humidity levels. I am currently manipulating the chemical composition of droplets and figuring out the main variable that affects the viability of airborne microorganisms. I have learned a variety of skills from this project, including operating particle sizing instruments, e.g. SMPS and APS, utilizing different bioaerosol samplers, conducting biological assays for microbe quantification, visualizing droplets and microbes using microscopy, and understanding particle evaporation/condensation processes.
My future research interests lie at the intersection of airborne microorganisms and chemistry and composition of atmospheric aerosols. I am particularly interested in studying how the chemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols affect the viability of airborne microorganisms, and the role of atmospheric chemistry in shaping microbial community.