Kerri A. Pratt

Kerri A. Pratt is a Professor of Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, and Program in Applied Physics at the University of Michigan, where she is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Her research focuses on the chemical interactions between atmospheric trace gases, particles, clouds, and snow through field-based measurements in wintertime environments and the rapidly warming Arctic.

Education:

• Postdoc, Chemistry, Purdue University
• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, San Diego
• B.S., Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University

Professor Pratt's research centers on atmospheric and environmental chemistry, particularly in polar regions. Her work examines chemical mechanisms in the atmosphere and at the air-snow interface through innovative field measurements. The Pratt Lab employs custom-built, field-portable instruments including single-particle mass spectrometers and chemical ionization mass spectrometers to measure atmospheric composition in real-time. Her research has significant implications for understanding climate change and air quality in rapidly changing Arctic environments.

Her publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on Arctic atmospheric chemistry, with particular attention to halogen chemistry, aerosol composition, and cryosphere-atmosphere interactions. Her work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations across atmospheric science, chemistry, and environmental science, with publications appearing in high-impact journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Nature Geoscience.

Scientific Awards:

• Fulbright Scholar Award to Australia, 2025
• National Brown Investigator Award, 2024
• Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists - Chemistry Finalist, 2023
• University of Michigan Faculty Recognition Award, 2022
• American Geophysical Union Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award, 2021
• American Meteorological Society Henry G. Houghton Award, 2021
• College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Class of 1923 Memorial Teaching Award, 2020
• American Chemical Society James J. Morgan ES&T Early Career Award, 2018
• Department of Energy Early Career Award, 2018

Professor Pratt has received substantial research funding from prestigious sources including the Department of Energy Early Career Award, Sloan Research Fellowship, and National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program Early Career Fellowship. Her laboratory actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in atmospheric chemistry research, with a focus on developing novel instrumentation for field measurements.

The Pratt Lab operates as a dynamic research group specializing in atmospheric measurements, with expertise in mass spectrometry, chromatography, and field instrumentation. The lab conducts research in challenging environments including the Arctic, where they study chemical processes in snow, clouds, and the atmosphere to understand climate change impacts.