RII Track-4:NSF: Photochemical Studies of Isoprene Oxidation Products and their Atmospheric Implications

该EPSCoR研究奖学金将使托尔加Karsili教授和他的研究生能够与宾夕法尼亚大学的Marsha Lester教授合作，研究太阳光如何与地球大气中的过氧化氢醛（HPALDs）相互作用。HPALD的光化学对我们的大气层有重大影响，因为它们涉及有害碳氢化合物排放的分解。我们将综合并进行最先进的测量，以发现阳光如何干扰HPALD的化学性质以及由此产生的产物对大气的影响。该项目将为代表性不足的第一代研究生提供极好的机会，他们将接受最先进的光化学实验的培训。通过从这次合作中获得的知识，Karsili教授将把最先进的技术带回家乡机构，路易斯安那大学拉斐特分校，预计将促进路易斯安那州和其他EPSCoR管辖区内的新合作。这个研究基础设施改善轨道-4 EPSCoR研究员（RII轨道-4）项目将提供奖学金，以助理教授和培训的研究生在路易斯安那大学拉斐特分校。异戊二烯是排放到对流层中的第二大挥发性有机化合物（仅次于甲烷）。它主要是在我们星球的森林深处，如亚马逊地区，生物排放的。与羟基（OH）自由基的反应代表其从对流层的主要去除，在对流层中持续的化学处理最终形成HPALD。在太阳光照射下，产生的HALD衰变形成OH自由基，从而将一些OH自由基预算再循环回对流层。这些OH自由基在增强对流层的氧化能力和清除碳氢化合物排放方面很重要。本提案的总体目标是访问莱斯特教授的小组，对稳定的HPALD进行最先进的速度图成像、激光诱导荧光和量子化学研究。总体愿景是建立长期合作，展示PI研究概况的新能力-为PI在大气和气候科学方面的研究事业创造变革性的轨迹。该项目的研究成果将被纳入路易斯安那大学拉斐特分校的本科生和研究生课程，并将为加强路易斯安那州的大气化学研究创造一条有前途的道路。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This EPSCoR Research Fellowship will enable Professor Tolga Karsili and his graduate student to work with Professor Marsha Lester at the University of Pennsylvania to undertake studies on how solar light interacts with hydroperoxyl aldehydes (HPALDs) in Earth’s atmosphere. The photochemistry of HPALDs has significant consequences for our atmosphere as they are implicated in the breakdown of harmful hydrocarbons emissions. We will synthesize and undertake state-of-the-art measurements to discover how sunlight perturbs the chemistry of HPALDs and the atmospheric implications of the resulting products. The project will provide excellent opportunities for an underrepresented and first-generation graduate student who will be trained in state-of-the-art photochemical experiments. Through knowledge gained from this collaboration, Professor Karsili will bring the state-of-the-art techniques back to the home institution, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which is expected to catalyze new collaborations within Louisiana and across other EPSCoR jurisdictions. This Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-4 EPSCoR Research Fellows (RII Track-4) project would provide a fellowship to an Assistant professor and training for a graduate student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Isoprene is the second most abundant volatile organic compound (after methane) emitted into the troposphere. It is biogenically emitted predominantly in deeply forested regions of our planet, such as the Amazon. Reaction with the hydroxyl (OH) radical represents its dominant removal from the troposphere, where continued chemical processing eventually forms HPALDs. The resulting HPALD decays to form OH radicals upon solar-light irradiation, thus recycling some of the OH radical budget back to the troposphere. These OH radicals are important in enhancing the troposphere's oxidizing capacity and removing hydrocarbon emissions. The overall goal of this proposal is to visit the group of Professor Lester to undertake state-of-the-art velocity map imaging, laser-induced fluorescence, and quantum chemical studies on stabilized HPALDs. The overarching vision is to establish a long-term collaboration that demonstrates new capabilities in the PI’s research profile – creating a transformative trajectory for the PI’s research career in atmospheric and climate sciences. The research outcome of this project will be integrated into the undergraduate and graduate curriculum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and will create a promising path toward enhancing atmospheric chemistry research in Louisiana.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.