Yuxuan Wang
Group Leader ywang246@central.uh.edu
Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 2005
B.E. in Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University, 2000
Yuxuan's research focuses on improving our predictive capability of air pollution, atmospheric chemical variability, and the interactions between air quality and climate change. When she's not working, Yuxuan enjoys spending time with her family and dog.
Xueying Liu
Postdoctoral Researcher xliu84@central.uh.edu
Ph.D. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2020
Xueying is interested in the complex interactions between air pollution, food security and ecosystem services under climate change. To address these pressing issues, she primarily uses chemical transport models and Earth system models including GEOS-Chem, WRF-GC and CESM. Current projects explore the impact of land-sea breeze on high ozone episodes over waters and adjacent coastal cities. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and traveling.
Yong-Cheol Jeong
Postdoctoral Researcher yjeong3@Central.UH.EDU
Ph.D. in in Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, South Korea, 2023
Yongcheol is interested in the interactions between air pollution and climate change. His current research topic is focused on exploring the interaction between drought and air pollutants using GEOS-Chem. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, swimming, and cycling
Claudia Bernier
Ph.D. Candidate cmbernier@uh.edu
B.S. in Meteorology (minor: Mathematics), the University of the Incarnate Word, 2016
Claudia's research is focused on meteorological air patterns and processes and their effects on air quality in coastal cities. Claudia graduated with a B.S. in Meteorology and a minor in Mathematics in December 2016 from the University of the Incarnate Word where she also swam Division 1 on an athletic scholarship. Some honors and awards she has achieved are NCAA Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association All-Academic Team, the School of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Honors-in Meteorology for outstanding academics, and the NCAR/ACOM Ralph C. Cicerone Fellowship. Claudia is fluent in Spanish and hopes to one day work in helping people understand the importance of science and global climate change.
Wei Li
Ph.D. Candidate wli38@uh.edu
M.S. in Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), 2018
B.A. in Resource Exploration Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, 2015
Wei is interested in applying data mining algorithms and numerical models (GEOS-Chem and WRF-Chem) to solve problems in atmospheric chemistry and air pollution. He has been awarded various scholarships and honors during both his undergraduate and graduate study, such as National Encouragement Scholarship in 2013 and Academic Scholarship in 2016. He believes in life-long learning and hopes to make significant contributions to the academic world. His favorite pastimes are traveling and playing table tennis.
Travis Griggs
Ph.D. Candidate (co-advised with Dr. James Flynn) ptgriggs@central.uh.edu
B.S. Environmental Science Environmental Systems and Modeling (Minor: Geology), May 2018, University of Houston
Travis’ research is focused on surface ozone observations in a complex coastal meteorological environment and is currently working on collecting unique mobile air quality observations on Galveston Bay. Travis graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Environmental Science degree at the University of Houston in the Spring of 2018. Travis is a native Houstonian and would like to contribute to the understanding and improvement of the local air quality. In his free time Travis enjoys spending time outdoors with his family (wife, son & 2 dogs).
Tabitha Lee
Ph.D. Student tclee3@uh.edu
B.S. in Environmental Science (concentration: Atmospheric Sciences) (minor: Energy and Sustainability, Geophysics), May 2020, University of Houston
Tabitha's research is focused on the impact of extreme weather conditions' effect on the electric load and how this changes the emissions profile in Texas. She hopes that her research will give way to a better understanding of the electric utility's role in extreme weather conditions and its effect on air quality. Tabitha is currently the vice president of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists and served as the social director of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and going on runs.
Ehsan Soleimanian
Ph.D. Student esoleima@uh.edu
M.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, 2020
B.S. in Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2017
Ehsan is interested in air pollution measurement techniques and analysis across urban areas to provide insight into the effects of pollutants on human health and the environment. His current research is associated with ozone pollution and its long-term variations in southeastern Texas. Ehsan graduated with an M.S. from the University of Southern California where he conducted experimental/analytical air quality projects focusing on the physio-chemical characterization, sources, and toxicity of ambient particulate matter across metropolitan areas. Ehsan’s research studies have been published in several peer-reviewed journals, and he has often contributed to the scientific publication process by serving as a peer reviewer for different journals.
Shailaja Wasti
Ph.D. Student swasti@cougarnet.uh.edu
M.S. in Atmospheric Physics and Atmospheric Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing), 2020
Shailaja is generally interested in remote sensing applications for environmental monitoring. Currently, she is investigating the effect of drought on air pollution using remote sensing data and numerical modeling. During her M.S, she developed a high-resolution evapotranspiration monitoring application for Nepal using Landsat-8 and the METRIC model. She did her undergraduate in Physics from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, with concentrations in space physics and environment. Shailaja has received several awards such as ‘ The Belt and Road’ Master Fellowship, thesis grant from ‘B.P. Koirala Memorial Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board, Nepal’, and merit-based tuition waivers during her studies. Outside of research, she is interested in cooking, playing badminton, and traveling. She is also involved in outreach activities for girls, especially from developing countries like Nepal, for study in the STEM field
Geoffrey Roberts
Ph.D. Student gmrober2@CougarNet.UH.EDU
B.S. in Meteorology , May 2022, Texas A&M University
Geoff is mainly interested in the effects that the effects of the urban heat island and the urban nocturnal patterns on air pollution.
Group Alumni
Elizabeth Klovenski Ph.D. 2022. Now at GHD
Sing-Chun "Sally" Wang Ph.D. 2019; Postdoc 2019-2020. Now at PNNL
Nan Lin Visiting Ph.D. student 2019 - 2020. Now at Tsinghua University