Alexander Laskin

Professor Alexander Laskin is a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University, specializing in analytical and physical chemistry with a focus on aerosol science and environmental interfaces. He holds a Ph.D. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1998). His research encompasses three core areas: development of analytical methods for aerosol characterization, chemical imaging of atmospheric particles, and laboratory studies of multi-phase chemistry. His work addresses the environmental and climatic impacts of airborne particles and interfaces, including biomass burning, urban pollution, and climate modeling. Laskin leads the Laskin Research Lab, mentoring numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Notable projects include studies on brown carbon, nanoplastics, and ice-nucleating particles, with findings published in top journals like Aerosol Science and Technology and Environmental Science & Technology. His group has pioneered advanced techniques such as spectro-microscopic analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry for aerosol characterization.

Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1998).

Research Interests:

• Development of novel analytical methods for aerosol analysis
• Chemical imaging of atmospheric particles using advanced microscopy
• Multi-phase chemistry of particles and environmental interfaces
• Impact of aerosols on air quality, climate, and human health

Advising and Grants: Laskin has guided over 20 graduate students and postdocs, many now in prominent academic and industry roles. His funding sources include NSF, NASA, and the Department of Energy. Recent grants support studies on wildfire emissions and nanoplastic pollution.

Labs/Teams: The Laskin Research Lab collaborates with institutions like Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the EMSL facility, focusing on interdisciplinary projects. Key collaborations include the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program and the SAIL snowpack study.