Tianchang Xu, Ph.D, Student, Industry/Government Positions

TIANCHANG XU, Georgia Institute of Technology

     Abstract Number: 691
     Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers

Abstract
I am a Ph.D. student at the Georgia Institute of Technology with experience in organic aerosol characterization and chemistry. Throughout my Ph.D. journey, I have gained extensive experience in both laboratory and field studies, focusing on the properties and impacts of aerosols from various sources.


My research projects include:

·  Laboratory chamber study on organic nitrate and SOA formation: Investigating the multi-generation oxidation of biogenic VOCs to address current mechanism gaps and running basic 0-D models to better understand the oxidation processes;


·  Laboratory biomass burning OA study: Investigating organic aerosol formation from wildfire and prescribed fire emissions, and analyzing the effect of dilution on SOA formation to understand their atmospheric transformations;

·  Field study on urban aerosols: Participating in the NYC-METS campaign in New York City (part of NOAA’s AGES+ 2024 campaign), examining the sources of organic aerosols (e.g., personal care products, cooking, biomass burning, etc.), utilizing factor analysis to differentiate and quantify the contributions from various sources.

I am proficient in operating advanced mass spectrometry instruments such as HR-ToF-AMS, FIGAERO-CIMS, and PTR-MS. I am skilled in conducting daily maintenance and repairs of FIGAERO-CIMS when needed to ensure measurement quality. Additionally, I have experience with data analysis techniques and software including MATLAB, Igor Pro, and Python, which allow me to interpret complex datasets effectively.

I anticipate graduating around spring 2025 and am seeking positions in industry or government within the U.S., with no geographical preference. While I prefer to continue my career as an experimentalist, I am open to exploring new challenges and learning new skills. My goal is to apply my expertise in aerosol chemistry to address real-world environmental issues and contribute to advancements in improving air quality and public health.