Director

Marina Vance

Marina Vance

Associate Professor • McLagan Family Faculty Fellow
Mechanical Engineering
Education: PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech MS, Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina BS, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. About: Nina was born and raised in Florianópolis, an island in southern Brazil. She received her bachelor's in Sanitation and Environmental Engineering from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, located in her hometown. Then she spent 3 years working as an environmental engineering consultant,...
marina.vance@colorado.edu

Graduate Students

Andrew Martin

Andrew Martin

MS student
Environmental Engineering
Education: BS, Environmental Engineering, Minor: Energy Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder. About: Drew worked as a Discovery Learning Apprenticeship project on filtration and aerosol conditioning (2020 - 2021) and as a researcher after his bachelor's graduation. In his free time, Drew enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking 14ers, and playing guitar.
Sofie Schwink

Sofie Schwink

PhD Student
Environmental Engineering
Education: BS, Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2021 About: Sofie is researching how physical properties of particulate matter change when transported between indoor and outdoor environments. She enjoys backpacking, cycling, knitting, and spending time with her pets.

Alumni - Postdoctoral Scholars

Liora Mael

Liora Mael

Postdoctoral Associate (Alumni)
Mechanical Engineering
Education: PhD, Atmospheric and Analytical Chemistry, University of California San Diego MS, Chemistry, University of California San Diego BA, Chemistry, Oberlin College About: Liora completed her PhD under Prof. Vicki Grassian at UCSD, where her research focused on studying the composition, ice nucleation, and low temperature water uptake of individual substrate deposited aerosol particles with Micro-Raman spectroscopy. Currently her research focuses on water interactions with indoor aerosol emissions. Her hobbies...
Sameer Patel

Sameer Patel

Postdoctoral Associate (Alumni)
Mechanical Engineering
Education: Ph.D., Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis. M.S., Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis. B.Tech., Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. About: Sameer's Ph.D. research has focused on fundamental lab studies on pollutant formation and characterization during residential scale solid fuel combustion, longitudinal cross-sectional environmental epidemiological studies in India, and regional scale cost-benefit analysis models to understand fuel preference...

Alumni - Graduate Students

Faisal Alamri

Faisal Alamri

Master's Student
Mechanical Engineering
Education: MS, Mechanical Engineering, CU Boulder, 2018. BS, Mechanical Engineering, King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). About: Faisal worked on investigating the interactions of air pollutants with photovoltaic panels, which has implications for the longevity and reliability or solar systems. After graduation, Faisal became a Research Associate at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
Julia Bakker-Arkema

Julia Bakker-Arkema

IndoorChem Science Communicator
Chemistry
Education: PhD Student, Chemistry, CU Boulder, 2020 (Advisor: Paul Ziemann) BA, Chemistry, magna cum laude, Carleton College About: Julia studies the chemistry that leads to the formation of secondary organic aerosols in the atmosphere, as well as multiphase chemistry that can take place in the particle-phase. She is interested in science communication through a variety of media, including writing, videos, and social media, and she’s passionate about increasing the visibility...
Itza Beltran

Itza Beltran

Master's Student
Mechanical Engineering
Education: MS, Mechanical Engineering, CU Boulder, 2018. BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Central Florida. About: After working in our lab 2017 - 2018, Itza became a Mechanical Engineering Intern at Particle Measuring Systems.
Avery Hatch

Avery Hatch

Graduate Student (2022 - 2023)
Environmental Engineering
Education: BS, Biochemistry, Elon University, 2020 About: Avery’s research explored how wildfire particulate matter enters homes and evaluating reasonable home interventions to protect residential environments. When not in the lab she enjoys baking, listening to podcasts on her porch, and exploring Colorado’s vast outdoor landscapes.
Austin Hayes

Austin Hayes

PhD Student (2023)
Education: BS/MS, Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2018. About: At RIT, his research focused on metal additive manufacturing to create micro and macrostructures for pool boiling enhancement. At CU Boulder, he is interested in applying additive manufacturing to the renewable energy sector. He has studied the influence of additive manufacturing on air quality with emphasis on powder-binder jetting and commercial machines. He came to CU, not only for the...
Zachary Linden

Zachary Linden

Master's Student
Environmental Engineering
Education: MS, Environmental Engineering, CU Boulder, 2018. BS, Civil Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. About: Zack researched aerosol emissions from a home 3D printer. After graduation, Zack became an Environmental Engineer at Arcadis.
Brittany Nixon

Brittany Nixon

MS Student (2023)
Mechanical Engineering
Education: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2020. A.A. Engineering, Howard Community College, 2018. About: Brittany was co-advised by Prof. Mike Hannigan in Mechanical Engineering. Brittany worked on predicting particulate matter soiling of photovoltaic modules using air quality sensor data. She likes getting outside, reading, art, cooking and enjoying food with people. After graduating, Brittany became a Performance Engineer at AES Clean Energy.
Sumit Sankhyan

Sumit Sankhyan

PhD Student (2022)
Mechanical Engineering
Education: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, 2017 MS, Mechanical Engineering, CU Boulder, 2019 PhD, Mechanical Engineering, CU Boulder, 2022 About: Sumit's research is focused on investigating emissions of black and brown carbon indoors. His hobbies and interests include hiking and reading in addition to exploring bike routes in Boulder. After graduation, Sumit became a postdoctoral scholar with Professor Shelly Miller.
Sarah Toth

Sarah Toth

PhD Student
Environmental Engineering
Education: PhD, Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 2021. BS, Environmental Engineering, magna cum laude, University of Florida, 2016. About: Sarah worked on particulate matter soiling of photovoltaic modules. She was co-advised by Prof. Mike Hannigan in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, she became an Associate at RMI .

Alumni - Undergraduate Students

Alan Carrasco

Alan Carrasco

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR), Summer 2019
Mechanical Engineering
Education: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Colorado Mesa University/University of Colorado Boulder Engineering Partnership Program, 2020 About: Alan conducted experiments in the Vance Lab dealing with the characterization of indoor ultrafine particles produced from 3D printers and cooking oils. He then continued on to work with the Vance Lab on his senior design project, designing an air quality containment and treatment enclosure for 3D printers and other office equipment. His curiosity towards...
Steven Coyan

Steven Coyan

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) student, CU Boulder, Summer 2021
Mechanical Engineering
Thomas Dunnington

Thomas Dunnington

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) student, CU Boulder, Summer 2022 • Undergraduate Researcher, 2022 - 2023.
Aerospace Engineering
Education: BS Student, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science Minor, CU Boulder. About: Thomas is working on a SPUR project investigating wildfire particulate matter and air quality. In his free time, Thomas enjoys playing the guitar, reading fantasy novels, and playing basketball.
Ashley Fowler

Ashley Fowler

Discovery Learning Apprenticeship (DLA), 2020-2021.
Environmental Engineering
Education: BS Student, Environmental Engineering, CU Boulder. About: Ashley worked on a Discovery Learning Apprenticeship project measuring the size distributions and light absorption properties of particulate matter. In her free time, Ashley enjoys doing yoga and exploring various genres of literature and music.
Kwasi Kyeremeh Dapaah

Kwasi Kyeremeh Dapaah

REU Student, Summer 2017
Mechanical Engineering
Education: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Colorado Mesa University/University of Colorado Boulder Engineering Partnership Program, 2018 About: Kwasi worked on evaluating the efficacy of enclosures to prevent people's exposure to ultrafine aerosols generated during the use of 3D pritners. Kwasi was also involved with our lab in the 2017 - 2018 academic year through a senior design project building a thermodenuder for conditioning aerosols. After graduation, Kwasi was hired as a materials...
Austin Spafford

Austin Spafford

BS/MS student
Mechanical Engineering
About: Austin is a BAM student researching the effectiveness of surgical plume removal devices for Medtronic. In his free time, he plays the tuba in multiple bands on campus and hikes and backpacks whenever he can.
Hannah Teed

Hannah Teed

Undergraduate Researcher
Environmental Engineering
Education: BS Student, Environmental Engineering, CU Boulder. About: Hannah works on the “masks project” in the Vance Laboratory; collecting and analyzing different filtration efficiencies and inhalation resistances for masks, respirators, and filter samples to aid in the COVID-19 crisis. Along with being an avid coffee enthusiast, Hannah enjoys running, rollerblading, rock climbing, and hiking in her free time.
Gage Van Natta

Gage Van Natta

Discovery Learn Apprentice (DLA), 2018-2019.
Engineering Physics
Education: BS, Engineering Physics, CU Boulder, 2019. Experience: Gage worked as an undergraduate researcher in the Vance Lab as a part of the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship (DLA) program. He worked on characterizing some of the instruments and components in the laboratory, such as aethalometers and diffusion driers. He is fascinated with learning about indoor air quality and learning how his experience as an Engineering Physics major can help to study...
Julia Witteman

Julia Witteman

Discovery Learn Apprentice (DLA), 2019-2020 • Undergraduate Researcher, 2019
Environmental Engineering
Education: BS Student, Environmental Engineering, Minor: Economics, CU Boulder About: Julia worked in our lab first as a volunteer, then on an hourly appointment, then as a DLA student. She worked on the “cooking oil project," collecting and analyzing data on aerosols emitted by heating different types of cooking oils past their smoke point. Julia enjoys research in indoor air quality because it is something that can make a significant...
Kayley Zabinski

Kayley Zabinski

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) student, Summer 2019.
Environmental Engineering
Education: BS Student, Environmental Engineering, Minor: Geology, CU Boulder. About: Kayley worked on collecting and analyzing data on aerosols emitted from heating cooking oil. She has also spent time characterizing the equipment in the new lab in order to ensure accurate data collection. In her free time, Kayley loves to ski, hike, and go backpacking, especially when she travels to Utah.