معرفی
Sally Pusede is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia's College of Arts & Sciences, where she directs atmospheric chemistry research and co-leads the Repair Lab. Her work bridges atmospheric science and environmental justice through measurements from ground, aircraft, and satellite platforms in urban and agricultural environments.
Dr. Pusede earned her Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley in 2014. Her educational background established the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach combining chemical measurements with community engagement.
As an atmospheric chemist, Pusede investigates reactive nitrogen cycles, greenhouse gas emissions (particularly nitrous oxide), and neighborhood-level air pollution disparities. Her research employs spatial and temporal variability analysis to derive mechanistic insights into urban atmospheric processes, with emphasis on how pollution adversely affects human health and ecosystems. She is co-director of UVA's Repair Lab, which develops community-based solutions to environmental justice issues like coal dust pollution in Hampton Roads and industrial swine facility impacts in North Carolina.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals three dominant research thrusts: 1) Quantifying air pollution inequality using satellite remote sensing (especially nitrogen dioxide and ammonia), 2) Investigating reactive nitrogen chemistry in urban-agricultural interfaces, and 3) Developing community-driven repair frameworks for environmental justice. Her work consistently demonstrates how neighborhood-level pollution disparities contribute to health outcomes and ozone formation, particularly in communities of color.
Dr. Pusede's scientific contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including:
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), Biden Administration, 2024
- Future Horizons in Climate Science Turco Lectureship, American Geophysical Union, 2022
- National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, 2021
- NASA New Investigator Program Award, 2021
- Environmental Sciences Organization Faculty Teaching Award, University of Virginia, 2016
She mentors graduate students through the Pusede Lab while securing major grants from NSF, NASA, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Her teaching portfolio includes EVSC 4380 (Air Pollution and Environmental Justice), EVSC 4490/7490 (Air Pollution), EVSC 5350 (Atmospheric Chemistry), and EVSC 3300 (Atmosphere and Weather).
The Repair Lab operates as an interdisciplinary environmental justice hub where Pusede collaborates with community practitioners, embedding researchers in Virginia communities through its practitioner-in-residence program. This lab focuses on coal dust pollution in Hampton Roads and industrial swine facility impacts in Eastern North Carolina, using satellite data to document environmental injustices while co-developing solutions with affected residents.
