People
Here you can find more information about our group members and their contact details (alphabetical order by last name).
Federico Bianchi - Group Leader

As­so­ci­ate Pro­fessor, Group Leader

About myself and my research top­ics

I’m an associate professor of cryosphere-atmosphere interaction at INAR, Helsinki University. As a chemist and atmospheric scientist,  I have wide experience in performing challenging field measurements using advanced mass spectrometers around the world, including mountain tops such as Jungfraujoch (3450m asl), Everest base camp (5050m asl) and the Chacalataya station (5240m asl) on top of the Andes.

I’m interested in studying aerosol formation processes in both remote places and megacities like Beijing and Shanghai. I also study the effect of global warming on melting permafrost. Currently, I have an ERC starting grant with the Title “CHAPAs - Chasing pre-industrial Aerosol”.

Email: federico.bianchi [at] helsinki.fi

Twitter: @AtmosFede

Home page and publications

Monica Passananti - Group Leader

Associate Professor, Group Leader

About myself and my research top­ics

I work as university researcher at INAR and as associate professor at the University of Turin in Italy. I’m an environmental chemist with experience in understanding natural processes in the atmosphere, in surface waters and at the interface. My research is focused on studying environmental processes and understanding the potential effect of human activities on the environmental equilibrium.

I’m currently working on the environmental fate of nano and small microplastics and developing procedures to collect and analyse these small plastic debris in the atmosphere and in surface waters. This research topic is funded by an ERC starting grant project with the title "NaPuE – Impact of Nanoplastics Pollution on aquatic and atmospheric Environments".

Email: monica.passananti [at] helsinki.fi

Twitter: @MoPassa4

Home page and publications

Jing Cai

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Top­ics

Aerosol chemical component measurement, Urban air pollution.

Email: jing.cai [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Runlong Cai

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Top­ics

 

Email: runlong.cai [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Giancarlo Ciarelli

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Topics

I work as postdoctoral researcher at INAR, University of Helsinki. My academic background is in civil and environmental engineering with a specialization in atmospheric chemistry. I use advanced computing facilities to perform high-resolution meteorological and chemical transport model simulations.

I am researching the fundamental mechanisms underlying new particle formation and transportation in the most pristine regions of the globe (e.g. the Himalaya), and their potential impacts on the climate.

Currenlty, I am a Wihuri grant holder (2022): "Organic geoengineering: the climate effects of biogenic particles transported by mountain valleys winds"

Email: giancarlo.ciarelli [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Jing Dou

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Top­ics

I am working on the fate of nanoplastics in surface waters and their interactions with the atmosphere. The abiotic degradation of environmental nanoplastics is investigated with lab experiments (e.g., flow tube).

Email: jing.dou [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Wei Huang

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Top­ics

Chemical composition and physicochemical  properties of atmospheric organic compounds from both chamber studies and field measurements by the deployment of chemical ionization mass spectrometers (CIMS).

Email: wei.huang [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Diego Aliaga

Doctoral Student

Research Top­ics

Atmospheric physics at high altitudes, combining regional modeling with measurements to understand aerosol properties, new particle formation and their coupling to sources. 

Email: diego.aliaga [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Anastasiia Demakova

Doctoral Student

Research Top­ics

New Particle Formation in boreal forests of Siberia. 

Email: anastasiia.demakova [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Xucheng He

Doctoral Student

Research Top­ics

Xu-Cheng He is mainly working on chemical reactions and new-particle formation processes introduced by iodine-containing species. His current research focus is the formation mechanisms of iodic acid (HIO3) and the significance of HIO3 in global new-particle formation processes compared to other nucleating species, such as sulfuric acid and oxidized organics.

Email: xucheng.he [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Jiali Shen

Doctoral Student

Research Top­ics

Investigating the chemistry process for the DMS oxidation with OH, NO3 radicals in CLOUD chamber.

Email: jiali.shen [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Qiaozhi Zha

Doctoral Student

Research Top­ics

Field measurements of highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOM) molecules.

Email: qiaozhi.zha [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Steven Thomas

Doctoral Student

Research Top­ics

Characterization and quantification of the Volatile Organic Compounds emitted from birch and spruce trees. 

Email: steven.thomas [at] helsinki.fi

Home page and publications

Former group mem­bers:
  • Haiyan Li (PostDoc)
  • Yee Jun Tham (PostDoc)
  • Lei Yao (PostDoc)
  • Lisa Beck (PhD student)
  • Olga Garmash (PhD Student)
  • Sonja Alasaukko-oja (Summer Student)
  • Sara Tahvonen (Summer Student)