Overview
My general research focus is on the influence of air pollution on both climate and human health. My specific interest is particulate matter (PM), and I have done a wide range of studies on the emission, formation, deposition and impacts of PM. I am particularly interested in how PM impacts climate by modifying the radiation balance of the atmosphere and I have done studies in both pristine regions of the world (Greenland and the Himalaya), as well as hazy regions (the Southeastern US, China, and India). More recently I have been studying the influence of PM on human health with emphasis on determining the relative contributions of sources (such as biomass burning and vehicular emissions) to acute health impacts. I am also involved in developing and deploying the next generation of air quality sensors to inform citizens on the quality of the air they are breathing so that they can make informed decisions to improve their air. My vision involves combining a multidisciplinary, multicultural approach to research and education that brings together researchers from around the world to collectively work together to make the air cleaner.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Sternberg Family Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
·
2021 - Present
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
·
2016 - Present
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke Kunshan University
·
2022 - Present
DKU Faculty
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
·
2016 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2018 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
An RF-CNN pipeline for predicting PM2.5 concentration in Sri Lanka
Journal Article Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · August 1, 2025 Air pollution is a considerable global public health threat, requiring efficient monitoring and forecasting to guide decision-making. This study introduces a cascaded model of enhanced Random Forest with Convolutional Neural Network (RF-CNN) that predicts ... Full text CiteA paradigm shift: Low-cost sensors for effective air quality monitoring and management in developing countries
Journal Article Environment International · June 1, 2025 This study gives an overview of the air quality monitoring challenges faced by South Asian countries, with a specific focus on Pakistan, and explores the potential application of low-cost sensors (LCS) to address these issues. Currently, 89% of the 4.2 mil ... Full text CiteImpacts of long-range transport of aerosols and biomass burning smoke from the Bay of Bengal to the Indian Ocean
Journal Article Environmental Research Communications · June 1, 2025 The Indo-Gangetic Plain, one of the most densely populated areas on earth, suffers from a combination of mobile source emissions, industrial point sources, agricultural biomass burning and other sources that lead to extreme levels of PM2.5 conce ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Duke University Program in Environmental Health
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2029Global Air Pollution and Health
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. · 2021 - 2027Mongolian Center for Environmental & Occupational Health - U.S. Subaward
Inst. Training Prgm or CMECo Investigator · Awarded by University of Texas Medical Branch · 2022 - 2027View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Carnegie Mellon University ·
1995
Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities ·
1991
M.S.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities ·
1987
B.S.