Sudheer Salana, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Seeking Postdoctoral Positions in Aerosol Measurements/Health effects
SUDHEER SALANA,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Abstract Number: 182
Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers
AbstractI am a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Vishal Verma’s group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My research focuses on the use of
in-vitro and chemical assays to evaluate ambient PM
2.5 toxicity.
In the past four years I have worked extensively on different techniques to improve our understanding of biological effects of ambient PM
2.5 using various human and mammalian cell lines. I designed and developed a semi-automated instrument, the first of its kind, for measuring the cellular oxidative potential (OP) using rat alveolar macrophage cells (published in journal AMT). The instrument named SCOPE uses dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) as a probe to detect the OP of PM samples extracted in water. I also worked on understanding the relationship between cytotoxicity and different methods to measure oxidative stress induced by PM. I was instrumental in establishing protocols for different biological assays in our lab and am proficient in using specialized instruments such as Flow Cytometer, ICP-MS, EC/OC analyzer and TOC analyzer. I am also well-versed in the programming language Python.
I have served as a TA for two different aerosol laboratory-based courses (one graduate-level and one undergraduate-level) in which I guided students in designing and executing projects involving indoor air quality measurements, setting up PM
2.5 sampling trains, PM
2.5 sample analysis, ACH calculations, use of low-cost sensors. I also demonstrated to and trained students on various aerosol measurement techniques using SMPS-CPC, OPS and other aerosol instruments.
Prior to my Ph.D. I worked for three years as a research fellow in the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Mumbai, India where I worked on numerous projects related to air quality including the design of an outdoor air purifier (WAYU), conducting CFD analysis and carrying out the performance testing of the device in the laboratory and field.
I am looking for postdoctoral opportunities in the field of aerosol measurements, toxicology, and health-effects of PM, anywhere in the US.
Anticipated availability: Summer/Fall 2024
Contact: ssalana2@illinois.edu