Matthew Elrod

Matthew Elrod is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Oberlin College, holding the Biggs Professorship of Natural Science. He is affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences and leads the Elrod Lab, focusing on atmospheric and environmental chemistry. His research investigates the atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly isoprene, to understand ozone formation and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mechanisms. Techniques include mass spectrometry, computational chemistry, and experimental kinetics studies using Oberlin's supercomputing resources.

Elrod earned his BA from Grinnell College (1989) and PhD from UC Berkeley (1994). He teaches Physical Chemistry, General Chemistry, and Environmental Chemistry. Recent projects involve acid-catalyzed reactions in aerosol particles and their climatic impacts.

His lab's work has been supported by NSF RUI grants, and he has co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles. Notable collaborations include studies on acetalization reactions, organosulfate formation, and epoxide reactivity in atmospheric aerosols.

Advising students like Becca Fenselau and Shira Presberg, Elrod emphasizes hands-on research training. Current research trends focus on interdisciplinary approaches linking computational modeling with experimental kinetics to address global climate and air quality challenges.