Project Grant 2603162

This $750,000 Project Grant, awarded July 1, 2026, through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemistry under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), supports integrated research conducted by Professors Vicki Grassian and Rommie Amaro at the University of California, San Diego. The primary deliverable is fundamental scientific research investigating the behavior, structure, properties, and reactivity of biological macromolecules—including nucleic acids and viruses—in aqueous aerosols and at the air/water interface. The research combines experimental and computational methodologies to address critical knowledge gaps regarding how aerosol pH influences surface partitioning of biological molecules and how these macromolecules transform under environmental conditions, including exposure to oxidants and solar radiation.

Beyond the core research deliverables, the grant supports secondary products and services including the training and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students in advanced scientific inquiry using state-of-the-art theoretical and experimental techniques, as well as public outreach and education efforts designed to enhance general audience understanding of bioaerosol chemistry and its public health implications. The three-year award period extends through June 30, 2029, and leverages the complementary expertise of the Grassian group in aerosol and interfacial chemistry with the Amaro group's computational and molecular dynamics capabilities to generate molecular-level insights applicable to atmospheric chemistry and disease transmission prevention.