Colette Heald

Colette Heald is a Full Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at ETH Zürich’s Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, serving as Deputy Head of the Institute. She holds a PhD in Earth and Planetary Science from Harvard University (2005) and has held academic roles at Colorado State University (2008–2011), MIT (2012–2023), and now ETH since 2024. Her research focuses on global tropospheric chemistry, atmospheric aerosols, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and chemistry-climate linkages. Key contributions include advancing understanding of wildfire impacts on air quality, aerosol dynamics, and climate feedbacks.

Dr. Heald’s honors include the AGU James B. Macelwane Medal (2015) and multiple teaching/leadership awards from MIT. She leads the Atmospheric Chemistry Group at ETH, contributing to courses like Atmospheric Chemistry and the Colloquium on Atmosphere and Climate.

Her work integrates observational data with advanced models, addressing critical questions in climate change mitigation, air pollution, and environmental sustainability.