This National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Grant award, funded through the Integrative Activities (CFDA 47.083) program, provides $717,750 to acquire a state-of-the-art Photoionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (PI-TOFMS) instrument at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), part of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). This instrument will enable new observations of the molecular structure and composition of organic materials suspended in air, supporting research on ambient aerosols, wildfire emissions, and microplastics in the environment. The project will reduce existing data gaps in these areas, establish source profile libraries, and provide research training opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and a postdoctoral researcher. Additionally, the project team will integrate the new instrument and observations into academic courses, student projects, and public outreach and data dissemination activities. This award reflects NSF's mission to strengthen research capabilities and broaden participation in STEM fields.
Generated 5/14/24, 3:03 AM