Alexander Laskin

Professor of Analytical Chemistry
Ph.D. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1998
BRWN 5131B
alaskin@purdue.edu
(765) 494-5243

Bio and CV (PDF)

Qiaorong Xie

Postdoctoral fellow

Email: xie449@purdue.edu

Qiaorong was born in Quanzhou, China. She received her doctorate from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing. Most of her works focus on the molecular composition and physicochemical properties of organic aerosols using HRMS. Qiaorong joined Dr. Laskin’s group as a postdoc in December 2022 to work on the NOAA project about biomass burning aerosols.

Kyla Siemens

Graduate Student (expected graduation: May 2024)

Email: ksiemens@purdue.edu

CV

Kyla is from Winnipeg, MB, Canada and received her BSc. from Jacksonville University, FL, with a major in Chemistry and minors in Applied Mathematics and Business Management. She joined the Alexander Laskin group in 2018 to pursue her PhD in Analytical Chemistry. Her graduate work focuses on the molecular characterization of atmospheric organic aerosols, specifically the light-absorbing components known as Brown Carbon. She primarily uses liquid chromatography, spectrophotometry, and electrospray ionization/atmospheric pressure photoionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-(ESI/APPI)HRMS) for her analyses. Kyla's dissertation projects are as follows:

1. Determined the molecular properties of organic aerosol products formed from the oxidation of naphthalene, a major fossil-fuel emission.
2. Developed a novel multi-modal MS technique to determine the chemical evolution and atmospheric fate of individual molecular components from wildfire smoke by:

       (a) Interpreted online aerosol-MS and extractive ESI-MS data.

       (b) Developed and implemented HPLC-PDA-(ESI)HRMS and tandem MS techniques to analyze wildfire smoke samples extracted from Teflon filters.

3. Established source-specific emission profiles to distinguish wild versus agricultural fires by HPLC-PDA-(ESI)HRMS.
4. Conducted laboratory-controlled burns of specific biomass materials:

       (a) Investigated smoke from various types of biomass.

       (b) Developed a method for rapid analysis of biomass-specific emission profiles, useful to conclude high-level information about wildfire samples (eg. atmospheric lifetimes and climate impact).

5. Investigated the impact of a haze event on snowmelt in the Colorado Rockies by analysis of light-absorbing organics from snow.

In her free time Kyla likes to hike, run, garden, crochet, and cook

Felipe Rivera-Adorno

Graduate Student (expected graduation 2024)

Email: friveraa@purdue.edu

Felipe is from Bayamon, Puerto Rico and received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus in May 2019. As a student in UPR he worked in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Research laboratory, where he studied the impact of backup power generators emissions on air quality during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. He now pursues a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University, where he joined Dr. Alexander Laskin’s group in November 2019. Felipe focuses on the application of chemical imaging techniques (computer-controlled SEM/EDX, environmental-SEM, TEM, and STXM/NEXAFS) to characterize the physico-chemical properties of laboratory-generated and field-collected ambient aerosols. Felipe’s individual projects involves:

1. The use of SEM and STXM to assess the viscosity of laboratory-generated organic particles based on their morphological features.
2. Chemical imaging of biomass burning aerosols collected onboard research aircraft during FIREX-AQ field campaign. This study is focused on investigating wildfire events in Western USA. 
3. Chemical and optical characterization of biomass burning aerosols collected from controlled laboratory combustion emissions.

Diego Calderon-Arrieta

Graduate Student (expected graduation 2025)

Email: calderod@purdue.edu

Diego is from Mobile, AL, where he received his B.Sc. in Chemistry at University of South Alabama in Summer 2020. As a student there, he worked on evaluating artificial sweetener contamination in Mobile Bay, a major estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. He grew fascinated by chemistry for its applications in environmental health, public health, and what role it can play in resolving environmental pollution issues. He joined Dr. Alexander Laskin’s group in November 2020, where he investigates the photolytic behavior of brown carbon chromophores emitted from biomass burning events. In his free time, Diego likes to go hiking, read, and play video games.

Emily Halpern

Graduate Student (expected graduation 2025)

Email: ehalpern@purdue.edu

Emily is from Lansdale, PA and received a dual B.S. degree in Chemistry and Forensic and Investigative Science from West Virginia University in May 2020. In August 2020, Emily joined the A. Laskin group. Her research centers on molecular characterization of complex and industrially relevant samples in the pursuit of sustainability. Emily projects include: (1) the pressure-based fractionation and structural determination of bio-oil fuel surrogates using aerosol technology and targeted reactive analysis and (2) the high-throughput DART-HRMS Screening of waste plastics contaminants and composition.

Steven Sharpe

Graduate Student (expected graduation 2026)

Email: sharpe22@purdue.edu

Steven is from Grinnell, IA and received a B.A. from Grinnell College where he double majored in Chemistry and Anthropology. During his undergraduate education, Steven characterized silicon-based electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries with electrochemical impedance and diffusion NMR with Professor Leslie Lyons. In Fall 2021, Steven started his PhD in Analytical Chemistry at Purdue University in Alex Laskin’s lab where he researches the atmospheric chemistry of aerosols.

Temitope Olayemi

Graduate Student (expected graduation 2027)

Email: tolayemi@purdue.edu

I am from Lagos, Nigeria and I got my BSc. Degree in Chemistry from the University of Lagos, Nigeria (Unilag) in October 2015. While in Unilag, I participated primarily in research on balance of phosphates and nitrates in the Lagos lagoon, as they concern eutrophication. I now pursue a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University having joined Dr. Alexander Laskin’s group in Fall 2022. My work will involve application of different techniques to study atmospheric aerosols and analysis of their different chemical compositions.

Hannah Folarin

Graduate Student (Expected graduation, 2027).

Email: hfolarin@purdue.edu

Hannah is from Oyo State, Nigeria. She attended the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where she bagged a double major Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Science Education in 2020. Since her undergraduate, she has been passionate about building sustainable planetary health and has explored effects of environmental pollution (adsorption of lead by microplastic pellets, and oxygen demand of gross organic matter) in wastewater samples in her previous research work. In Fall 2022, Hannah started her PhD in analytical Chemistry and joined Dr. Alex Laskin’s research group. Her research work will be centered on studying the chemistry of atmospheric aerosols. In her free time, she enjoys baking and exploring new adventures.

Catalina Sara Botero

Shelby Huston

Graduate Student (Expected graduation, 2028).

Email: huston10@purdue.edu

Shelby is from the city of Lawrence, on the northeast side of Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Art History from Purdue University in May of 2023. As an undergraduate, she joined the Alexander Laskin group in January of 2022, originally working with Brianna Peterson and Ana Morales on the characterization of nanoplastic particles discovered in emissions from sewer pipe repairs. In Fall 2023, she formally joined Dr. Alex Laskin's group as a graduate student, pursuing her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry. She hopes to broaden her knowledge in atmospheric aerosol research after finishing her previous work investigating the photooxidative behavior of Iron(III)/4-nitrocatechol complexes. In her free time, she likes to draw, paint, travel, and play Stardew Valley.

Shudeepta Sarker

Graduate Student (Expected graduation, 2028).

Email: sarker0@purdue.edu

Shudeepta is from Bangladesh and received her B.Sc and M.Sc in Chemistry from the University of Rajshahi. During her M.Sc thesis, she worked on mitigating surfactant concentrations in soil and water using vermicompost fertilizer. She started her professional career by joining multinational testing laboratory Intertek as an Analytical Chemist. Mainly, she analyzed restricted substances in textile products using GC-MS. Later, as a Research Fellow, she joined the Institute of National Analytical Research and Services (INARS) in the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). In the fall of 2023, she started her PhD in Analytical Chemistry and joined Dr Alexander Laskin's group to do extended research on environmental chemistry. In her free time, she likes to read and explore different places. She is very passionate about music.

Julius Ese

Graduate Student (Expected graduation, 2028).

Email: esej@purdue.edu

Julius is from Delta State, Nigeria, where he obtained a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Edwin Clark University (ECU) in February 2021. While at ECU, he participated in research focused on the utilization of activated carbon for wastewater treatment. In Fall 2023, Julius commenced his PhD in Chemistry at Purdue University, where he joined Dr. Alexander Laskin’s group because of his keen interest in the chemistry of atmospheric aerosols. In his free time, He enjoys playing board games, soccer and listening to the works of Ludwig Goransson.

Peter Christ

Email: chris261@purdue.edu

Peter is an undergraduate student from Terre Haute, IN pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in natural resources and environmental science. He plans to continue his education after graduating from Purdue by pursuing a graduate degree in environmental or soil chemistry. Peter is currently working with Brianna Peterson on the characterization of aerosols formed during the cured-in-place pipe installation process. He is also a member of Purdue’s club tennis team.

Isaac Morton

Hajian Nyiri Alice

Email: nhajian@purdue.edu

My name is Nyiri Hajian, and I’m from Massachusetts. I am a junior at Purdue studying chemistry with a minor in natural resources and environmental science. I’ve been working with Hannah in the lab, researching the degradation effects of sunlight on different water bottle types.

Jessica Knull

Email: knullj@purdue.edu

Jessica is currently an undergraduate from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is working on her B.S. in Chemistry while also minoring in Spanish. She is excited to be involved in undergraduate research. She is currently working with Diego and his research on the photolytic behavior of brown carbon chromophores. Outside of chemistry, Jessica is a part of the Purdue Color Guard. 

Kirby Hill

Email:hill523@purdue.edu

Kirby is an undergraduate student from Seymour, IN currently pursuing a Biochemistry(Chemistry) degree with plans of applying to pharmacy school next year. Outside of school, Kirby is a member of Purdue University Dance Marathon where she fundraises and raises awareness for Riley Hospital for Children as well as a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority.

Ahmad Muqri Azfar Bin Kamaruddin

Email: akamaru@purdue.edu

Azfar is an undergraduate student from Kelantan, Malaysia. He is a second-year student in the Chemistry major and is working on the application for a data science certificate. He is currently working with Tope on the research of the chemical composition and morphological analysis of atmospheric particles from an intensive bonfire-burning festival. Outside of class, Azfar loves to play sports such as table tennis, badminton, and soccer.

JingKai Wang

Email: wang5753@purdue.edu

JingKai commonly goes by Kimi, and is an undergraduate student from China and pursuing chemistry degree. He is working with Diego on the research of brown carbon from biomass burning events. Outside of school, Kimi plays guitar, table tennis, and video games in his free time.