Happy New Year! 2023 was an incredibly productive and exciting year for the Smith group. We participated in multiple field campaigns this year. The EPCAPE field campaign took place in the spring. We spent two months in La Jolla, collecting data on coastal aerosols. The Brake and Tire wear project had a week-long stint at a site on the 405 and one at the Santa Ana Zoo. The purpose of these campaigns was to learn more about the health effects of the brake and tire wear particles and their impact on marginalized communities.
Congratulations to Lia Dam on successfully defending her PhD and securing a postdoc position at Sally Ng’s lab at Georgia Tech. While her absence is surely felt, it’s wonderful to see members of the group moving on to new opportunities and contributing further to aerosol research.We also welcome Madeline Cooke as the new postdoc from Andy Ault’s lab at the University of Michigan. Madeline adds a fresh perspective to the team, especially as she dives into the Brake and Tire wear project.
In addition to our research the Smith group made time for lab parties, a group tour of UCI’s nuclear reactor, and a tour of California Air Resources Board’s new Riverside site. Here’s to a fantastic 2024 filled with new discoveries, continued success, and more memorable moments for the Smith group!
