RUI: Environmentally and Biologically Relevant Chemical Mechanisms Induced by Carbonaceous Nanoparticles

化学部的环境化学科学（ECS）计划将支持中央华盛顿大学（CWU）的副教授Anne Johansen的研究计划。 Johansen博士和她的研究小组将研究收集到的大气超细颗粒物（~ 100 nm，UFP）的物理化学性质与其环境反应性和生理毒性之间的化学机制。 研究了两个主要的颗粒特性：（i）氧化还原活性或生物可利用铁的含量，以及（ii）颗粒表面碳氧化的程度。 此外，将评价周围基质中潜在电子供体的存在。 通过使用模型烟尘和真实的UFP，将确定机制，并在生物和环境相关条件下评估其相对重要性。 研究将在CWU和太平洋西北国家实验室用户设施（EMSL）进行，并借助定制和最先进的仪器。 这些分析能力将能够产生新的结果，这些结果可能会增加目前对碳质颗粒在各种环境中的反应性和转化的理解。 本研究的一个重要的教育组成部分是有效的培训本科生从一个主要的本科院校位于农村环境，如CWU。 大量代表性不足的少数民族学生将通过与附近国家实验室的科学家合作的实践工作获得实验，批判性思维和沟通技能。

The Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS) program of the Division of Chemistry will support the research program of Associate Prof. Anne Johansen of Central Washington University (CWU). Dr. Johansen and her research group will study the chemical mechanisms linking physico-chemical properties of collected atmospheric ultrafine particles (¡Ü 100 nm, UFP) to their environmental reactivity and physiological toxicity. Two main particle characteristics are investigated: (i) the content of redox-active, or bioavailable iron, and (ii) the degree of particle surface carbon oxidation. In addition, the presence of potential electron donors in the surrounding matrix will be evaluated. By using model soot and real UFPs, mechanisms will be identified and their relative significance assessed in biologically and environmentally relevant conditions. Research will be conducted at CWU and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory User Facility (EMSL) with the aid of custom-made and state-of-the-art instruments. These analytical capabilities will enable the generation of novel results that are likely to increase current understanding of the reactivity and transformation of carbonaceous particles in a variety of settings. An important educational component of this study is the effective training of undergraduate students from a primarily undergraduate institution located in a rural setting such as CWU. A large number of underrepresented minority students will gain experimental, critical thinking and communication skills through their hands-on work while collaborating with scientists from the nearby National Laboratory.