Ryan Sullivan

Ryan Sullivan is a Professor of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, with a courtesy appointment in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He serves as Associate Director of the Institute for Green Science and Graduate Program Chair for the Chemistry Department. His research spans atmospheric chemistry, aerosol science, and environmental engineering, with a focus on understanding the physicochemical properties of atmospheric particles and their climate impacts.

Dr. Sullivan's educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, 2008
• M.S. in Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, 2006
• B.S. in Chemistry, University of Toronto, 2002
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Colorado State University, 2009-2010

His research interests focus on atmospheric aerosol particles and their role in climate change, air quality, and human health. Dr. Sullivan's work combines instrument development, laboratory experiments, and field measurements to investigate how particles' chemical composition affects their ability to nucleate clouds and influence climate. His group develops advanced analytical techniques including aerosol optical tweezers, laser ablation mass spectrometry, and droplet microfluidics to study single particles in real-time. Current projects examine biomass burning emissions, PFAS remediation, and the development of sustainable chemical alternatives.

Dr. Sullivan's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on atmospheric particle characterization, ice nucleation processes, and environmental contaminant remediation. His work spans from fundamental atmospheric chemistry to practical applications in water purification and sustainable chemistry. The research shows increasing integration of field measurements with laboratory studies and modeling approaches.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with several awards:

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2016)
• Environmental Award from Carnegie Science Center (2019)
• Provost's Inclusive Teaching Fellow at CMU (2022-2023)
• Top Peer Reviewer in Cross-field by Publons (2018)

Dr. Sullivan has secured substantial research funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and other agencies to support his work on atmospheric chemistry and environmental sustainability. His group collaborates with researchers across disciplines and institutions, including partnerships with ETH Zürich where he served as a Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow. He actively mentors students and has developed innovative courses including "Environmental Science on a Changing Planet" and "Environmental Chemistry."

The Sullivan Group operates multiple laboratories at CMU, including facilities for aerosol optical tweezers, mass spectrometry, and microfluidics. They are part of the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies and the Institute for Green Science. The group collaborates with industry partners through Sudoc, a startup co-founded by Dr. Sullivan that commercializes TAML catalysts for environmental remediation.