Trainee Kira Zeider Defends PhD Dissertation
May 15, 2024
Congratulations to UA SRC trainee Kira Zeider who just defended her PhD dissertation and is graduating from the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. She was mentored by Dr. Armin Sorooshian and Dr. Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta.
Her dissertation project investigated ground-based and airborne aerosol research in both arid and marine regions. The ground-based studies were rooted in community-science and investigated the use of phytotechnologies in fenceline communities. The airborne aerosol research investigated aerosol and cloud properties of the United States west coast and east coast, with respect to changes in wind direction and degrees of boundary layer coupling, respectively.
During her studies, this amazing trainee was selected as:
- UA Herbold Fellows
- Carson Scholar
- Thomas G. Chapman Memorial Fellow
- Harvill Fellow
- Intern with the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program
- Intern with Freeport-McMoRan
In addition, Kira Zeider published a paper (Zeider et al., 2021) evaluating the efficacy of plant leaves as low-cost air quality monitors for local communities, and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) wrote a research brief on this publication. This publication was also selected as the NIEHS Extramural Paper of the Month in October 2021, as well as one of 35 NIEHS Papers of the Year. A follow up journal article (Zeider et al., 2023) investigated the concentration of many pollutants in dust from the leaves of community-collected backyard and garden plants (foliar dust), as well as if certain variables affected collection efficacy.
Following graduation, Kira will be pursuing a career in the field of environmental science and environmental justice.
Congratulations to Dr. Kira Zeider on all her successes and all our best wishes for her future endeavors!
Publications:
Zeider K, Manjón I, Betterton EA, Sáez AE, Sorooshian A, Ramírez-Andreotta MD. Backyard aerosol pollution monitors: foliar surfaces, dust enrichment, and factors influencing foliar retention. Environ Monit Assess. 2023 Sep 13;195(10):1200. doi: 10.1007/s10661-023-11752-2. PMID: 37700111; PMCID: PMC10636967.
Zeider K, Manjón I, Betterton EA, Sáez AE, Sorooshian A, Ramírez-Andreotta MD. Backyard aerosol pollution monitors: foliar surfaces, dust enrichment, and factors influencing foliar retention. Environ Monit Assess. 2023 Sep 13;195(10):1200. doi: 10.1007/s10661-023-11752-2. PMID: 37700111; PMCID: PMC10636967.