Join us at this year’s AAAR Annual Conference. AAAR provides the scientific community an opportunity to showcase and discuss the latest research in aerosol science and technology. Event attendees can expect an exciting and diverse array of plenary lectures, special symposia, poster sessions, oral platform sessions, tutorials, and special events.

Two Chemical Insights Research Institute staff will be presenting. Dr. Cynthia Choo will be sharing her research on VOCs released from wood and synthetic building materials. Dr. Qian Zhang will be presenting his findings regarding aerosol emissions from first and secondhand vaping.

Research Scientist, Chemical Insights Research Institute

Cynthia Choo is a Research Scientist in the Center for Exposure Science within Chemical Insights Research Institute. Her work aims to better understand and reduce human’s exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile compounds (SVOCs) in indoor environments. Choo’s research focuses on chemical characterization of the post-fire residue from wildland or wildland urban interface (WUI) fires and exposure modeling to assess corresponding human exposure through inhalation, ingestion and dermal exposure. Using advanced analytical instrumentation like gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), Choo implements green analytical methods for the analysis of VOCs and SVOCs in different matrices.

Choo received a Ph.D. and a Master (M.S.) in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Memphis. After graduate school, Choo worked as a tenure track assistant professor, at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) teaching undergraduate level foundation of analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis as well as graduate level special topics in chromatography. Besides teaching, Choo remains active in her research. She was a co-PI in a project funded by the Missouri Department of Conservation to study pallid sturgeon’s environmental life history in the Missouri and Mississippi River. After spending 3 years in academia, Choo then went on to work as an R&D chemist for various companies, leading research and development teams to develop new testing capabilities and improving existing practices. Choo is dedicated to mentorship, having served as a research mentor at the University of Memphis. She mentored students selected for American Chemical Society (ACS) Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged (SEED) program and National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Research Scientist, Chemical Insights Research Institute

Zhang’s research interests focus on indoor and outdoor air quality and pollution, particle and chemical emissions from emerging technologies, human exposure and health impacts. Her experience and expertise include particle and chemical emission characterization, aerosol measurement and instrumentation, aerosol toxicity assessment, and indoor air exposure estimation. Her motivation is to understand the science behind environmental pollutions and associated concerns and contribute to the improvement of the environment and human health.

Zhang received her Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2018. Her doctoral research focused on aerosol emissions from consumer level 3D printers, with specialties in aerosol characterization, aerosol dynamic modeling, and aerosol toxicity assessment. Starting 2019, she joined Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. as a post-doctoral researcher, and became a Research Scientist in 2021. At Chemical Insights Research Institute, she conducts research on particle and volatile organic compound emissions from 3D printing, aerosol emission characterization from electronic nicotine delivery systems, exposure estimation of emerging indoor emissions, exposure mitigation strategy evaluation; and advances her skills in experimental design, field study sampling, data analysis and management. Before she came to the U.S., she received her master’s and bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from University of Science and Technology Beijing, China and worked on water and wastewater treatment technologies.

Beyond publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at domestic and international conferences, Zhang also serves as reviewer and member in scientific communities. She holds an engineer-in-training certification.

Buffalo Convention Center

153 Franklin St,

Buffalo, NY 14202