Please reach out to anyone in the group if you are curious about our work or lab! Follow our Instagram @bertramlab for updates.
Shannon Brown (she/her/hers)
Email: sabrown28@wisc.edu
Year: 4th year
Project Category: Atmospheric Chemistry in the Marine Boundary Layer (MBL)
Undergraduate: The Alabama State University
My project takes a look at the intricacies of sulphur-based gas phase oxidation. Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry based chamber experiments in conjunction with atmospheric modeling are used to replicate the nocturnal oxidation of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) to extract the kinetics surrounding recently confirmed oxidation product, HPMTF. I like going to the comedy club, Costco, and naps.
Martina Rogers (she/her/hers)
Email: mnrogers@wisc.edu
Year: 4th year
Project Category: Urban Air Quality and Lake Spray Aerosol
Undergraduate: Miami University
I work on two projects: urban air quality in downtown Chicago and cyanobacterial cell transport via lake spray aerosol. My Chicago project is my primary focus, in which I spent about 6 weeks in downtown Chicago during the summer of 2023 measuring Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) with our GC-PTR-MS (GC + Vocus). I’m now using that data to investigate terpenoid speciation, source attribution, and temporal variability. My second project is lab-based, where I am using our mini Marine Aerosol Reference Tank (MART) to understand the mechanisms behind lake spray and their potential ability to transport intact cyanobacterial cells to the atmosphere during Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
Subi Thakali (she/her/hers)
Email: thakali@wisc.edu
Year: 4th year
Project Category: Urban Air Quality
Undergraduate: Kalamazoo College
I work on several projects, all in the context of urban air chemistry. During the Summer of 2023, I was involved in the AEROMMA flight field campaign over large urban centers (e.g., NYC, Chicago, LA). For this project I used an Iodide-CIMS, and am currently using the data to study chloramines. This past summer, I worked on a mobile field campaign (USOS) in Salt Lake City, using the I- CIMS to get a spatial understanding of halogen chemistry in this region. Finally, I am working with underserved communities in Madison to set up a more comprehensive air quality monitoring system for PM 2.5. In my free time, I like to play tennis and volleyball, try different Madison restaurants, and travel.
Kevin Wokosin (he/him/his)
Email: kwokosin@wisc.edu
Year: 4th year
Project Category: Instrumentation Development
Undergraduate: College of Wooster
My project involves designing and building an autonomous, low cost mass spectrometer for VOC monitoring. I’m currently testing photoionization sources with integrated ion guides. I also worked for CARB and UC Davis Air Quality Research Center prior to starting grad school. My hobbies include playing music in local bands, ultimate frisbee, and outdoor activities.
David Hood (he/him/his)
Email: djhood@wisc.edu
Year: 4th year, joint (final) student of Gil Nathanson
Project Category: Interfacial Reactions of Atmospheric Relevance
Undergraduate: College of William & Mary
My research focuses on characterizing the effect of surfactant monolayers on chemical reaction on the surface of water. My current project is looking at the role of surfactant charge and density on reaction of N2O5 with Cl– in solvent boats and using helium evaporation from a microjet. My hobbies include sailing, hiking, XC skiing, cooking and reading.
Rebecca Fenselau (she/her/hers)
Email: fenselau@wisc.edu
Year: 2nd year
Project Category: Atmospheric Chemistry in the Marine Boundary Layer (MBL)
Undergraduate: Oberlin College
My project will be investigating the ozonolysis products of VOCs produced by phytoplankton at the marine boundary layer. I’m currently working to set up a phytoplankton culturing workspace in the lab and a flow tube. I also have been working on making a low cost homemade mass flow controller, which originated as a project for the Electronics class offered by the Analytical department last Spring! Previous to starting grad school, I worked for a company in Maryland, where I worked on a treatment to kill anthrax spores and tested our MALDI MS systems on a variety of aerosolized bioagents and human breath samples. In my free time, I love to play with my cat, bake, and read. I am also currently on the Community Building committee and am the Co-Chair for the GSFLC.
Elisabeth Kray (she/her/hers)
Email: ekray@wisc.edu
Year: 2nd year
Project Category: Atmospheric Chemistry in the Marine Boundary Layer (MBL)
Undergraduate: Gustavus Adolphus College
My project will be focused on the production of OCS/CS2 from surface seawater. I work with our Vocus PTR-ToF-MS and its coupled GC. I have run various calibrations (including OCS/CS2), test ionization methods, etc. to train on the instrument and prepare for the project. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, downhill skiing, and exploring new spots in Madison! I am also involved with Women in Chemistry (WIC), so feel free to ask me any questions about that as well as anything else about Madison, grad school, first year, etc!
Chevaugn Campbell (he/him/his)
Email: cpcampbell5@wisc.edu
Year: 1st year
Project Category: Urban Air Quality
Undergraduate: Kenyon College
My project will focus on urban air chemistry. I will be participating in the GOTHAAM flight field campaign to study the night-to-daytime transition of atmospheric chemical oxidation processes in the Greater NYC region. My hobbies include videogaming, hiking, cooking and going on road trips. I also went to a small college (< 2000 students), so I can speak to the small-to-big school transition.
Audrey Lyp (she/her/hers)
Email: lyp@wisc.edu
Year: Senior undergraduate at UW-Madison
Project Category: Interfacial Reactions of Atmospheric Relevance
My project is focused on investigating the reactive loss of ozone to freshwater surfaces including Lake Mendota to determine the significance of these surfaces as an ozone sink in the atmosphere. I have been working to develop an experiment set-up with a flow tube to measure ozone loss to sample solutions using a Personal Ozone Monitor. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, listening to music, and drawing.