Vicki H. Grassian

Vicki H. Grassian's research focuses on the chemistry and impacts of environmental interfaces including atmospheric aerosols, aqueous microdroplets, engineered and geochemical nanomaterials, and indoor surfaces. Professor Grassian’s work has transformed several topics from macroscopic phenomenally based investigations into a fundamental molecular-level mechanistic framework. Her research specifically focuses on the role that surfaces and interfaces play in the environment. Surfaces and interfaces are often characterized as where “the action is”, i.e. where the physicochemical properties differ from that of the bulk leading to unique and enhanced reactivity and where different environmental “compartments”, e.g. the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere and biosphere, intersect. Additionally, there are engineered interfaces such as engineered nanomaterials or surfaces in indoor environments. Interrogating interfacial processes has long been a “holy grail” in chemistry, particularly when dealing with disordered, multi-component systems. Professor Grassian has developed and applied pioneering techniques to provide detailed molecular-level insights into how interfaces drive environmental and atmospheric processes—insights that have changed how we understand Earth's physical and chemical dynamics and places her research in the context of understanding air quality, water quality, soil contamination, climate, human and ecosystem health and element cycling. atmospheric chemistry and climate. Overall, Professor Grassian has been recognized for her contributions to several subfields within chemistry, environmental, physical, analytical and geo, as well as to sustainability, nanoscience and nanotechnology and spectroscopy.