Welcome to the Pratt Lab blog! Dr. Kerri Pratt is an assistant professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Earth & Environmental Sciences and faculty associate of the Program in the Environment at the University of Michigan. We study the chemical interactions of atmospheric trace gases, particles, clouds, and snow, with a focus on the Polar Regions and wintertime environments. Our interdisciplinary research has relevance to climate change, air quality, and human health. As an analytical chemistry lab, we primarily apply novel mass spectrometry techniques to our field research. We invite you to follow our adventures in (and outside!) the lab!

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Pratt Lab members at the American Geophysical Union meeting

Prof. Kerri Pratt, post-doc Dr. Peter Peterson, and Ph.D. student Matt Gunsch presented Arctic research results at the 2015 American Geophysical Union meeting held in San Francisco from Dec. 14-18. It was a productive, Arctic-focused meeting for us!

Prof. Pratt presented a poster titled "Single-Particle Chemical Composition in the Arctic during the Winter-Spring Transition" highlighting work by Ph.D. student Rachel Kirpes. She also gave an invited talk titled "Arctic Ozone and Bromine Chemistry: Relationships with Snow Composition and Open Lead Presence", based on work by post-doc Peter Peterson and undergraduate student Mark Hartwig through our NASA grant.

Post-doc Dr. Peter Peterson presented a poster titled "Characterizing Variability in the Spatial Distribution of Bromine Explosion Events in the Vicinity of Barrow, Alaska" based on his work through our NASA grant.

Ph.D. student Matt Gunsch presented a poster titled "Size-Resolved Chemical Analysis of Individual Atmospheric Aerosols near Barrow, Alaska" based on his work through our NOAA grant.


Friday, December 11, 2015

Collaborative research highlight in Traverse City Record Herald

Our collaborative UM Water Center research with Prof. Andrew Ault's lab was highlighted in the Traverse City Record Herald!  We are studying the generation of aerosols from wave-breaking on the Great Lakes.

Monday, December 7, 2015

CHEM 125/126 - Snow Chemistry Poster Session Wednesday

The semester poster session for CHEM 125/126, section 400 (General Chemistry Laboratory - Authentic Research Experience in Snow Chemistry), will be Wed Dec 10 from 2:20-4:00 pm in the lower atrium of the Chemistry building. 28 freshman and sophomore undergraduate students will be presenting individual research posters about Arctic snow chemical composition and atmospheric impacts! Posters will be judged by UM Department of Chemistry faculty, post-docs, and graduate students from CSIE-UM. This course was developed by Prof. Pratt with funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the University of Michigan Authentic Research Connection. The overaching goal of the course is to enhance STEM retention.  Notably, 77% of the class is female, with two students in the UM Comprehensive Studies Program.

Fall 2015 CHEM 125/126 Section 400 (General Chemistry Laboratory - Authentic Research Experience in Snow Chemistry)

CHEM 125/126 Section 400 Team:
Professor Kerri Pratt
Future Faculty Graduate Student Instructors: Nate May & Stephen McNamara
Post-doc Instructor: Siyuan Wang
Undergraduate Instructors: Mark Hartwig, Evan Schwartz, Alexa Watson
*All instructors are part of the Pratt Lab.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Nate gives talk at CSIE-UM event

Pratt Lab Ph.D. student Nate May gave a talk titled "Arctic Snow Research in the General Chemistry Laboratory" at the Dec 4 CSIE-UM (Chemical Sciences at the Interface of Education - University of Michigan) event! Pratt Lab students Nate May and Stephen McNamara are currently future faculty graduate student instructors (FFGSIs) helping with course development and the first offering of CHEM 125/126, section 400 - General Chemistry Laboratory - Authentic Research Experience in Snow Chemistry.  This course is being developed with funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for the University of Michigan Authentic Research Connection.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

GAANN Fellowships to Nate & Stephen!

Pratt Lab graduate students Nate May and Stephen McNamara have been awarded Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowships for Winter 2016 for their participation in the continued development of our special snow chemistry research section of CHEM 125/126!  Congratulations Nate & Stephen!