Prather Research Group

University of California, San Diego

Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry

9500 Gilman Drive, M/C 0314

La Jolla, CA 92093-0314   

Phone: 858-822-5745

E-mail: kpratt@ucsd.edu

http://atofms.ucsd.edu

            University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

            Advisor: Prof. Kimberly A. Prather

            Thesis: New Insights into Aerosol Mixing State using Aircraft Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

            Focus: Environmental/Analytical Chemistry

            M.S. Chemistry, Dec. 2006

            Awards: NOAA Climate & Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship (2009-2011) - For research with

                         Dr. Daniel Cziczo & Dr. Jennifer Comstock at the Pacific Northwest National Lab

                         National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2006-2009)

          US EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Graduate Fellowship (2005-2006)

          National Society of the DAR Graduate Chemistry Scholarship (2008)         

          San Diego Association of Environmental Professionals Scholarship (2007)

            The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), Schreyer Honors College

            Advisors: Prof. Karl T. Mueller & Prof. A. Daniel Jones

            Thesis: NMR Studies of Perfluorinated Compounds with Environmental Relevance

            Focus: Environmental Chemistry

            Minor: Watersheds & Water Resources

            Awards: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention (2004)

          Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (2002-2004)

          Morris K. Udall Scholarship (2002-2004)

          USA-TODAY All-USA College Academic First Team (2003)

          PSU Teas Summer Research Scholarship (2003)

          Central PA Section of the ACS Joseph A. Dixon Travel Award (2003)

          PSU Lockheed Martin Scholarship for Women in Science (2002-2003)

          PSU Schreyer Honors College International Thesis Research Grant (2002)

          PSU Dept. of Chemistry Scholarship (2001-2004)

          PSU Center for Environmental Chemistry & Geochemistry Summer Research Fellowship (2001)

          PSU Agriculture Excellence Scholarship (2000-2001)

          PSU Schreyer Scholar (2000-2004)

-        Climate change: global and regional climate change, particularly with regard to the Arctic, indirect effect, and precipitation patterns

-        Atmospheric chemistry and air pollution: aerosols, wildfires, cloud nucleation

-        Instrument development for aircraft-based measurements

Graduate Research                                                     Aug. 2004 - present

-        Lab of Prof. Kim Prather, UCSD Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry

-        Development and field-testing of the aircraft aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (A-ATOFMS)

-      Application of a counterflow virtual impactor in series with the A-ATOFMS for the study of cloud nuclei (collaboration with Prof. Cynthia Twohy, Oregon State Univ.)

-        Application of an automatically-switching thermodenuder in series with the A-ATOFMS for the study of secondary organic aerosols (collaboration with Prof. Jose Jimenez and Alex Huffman of the University of Colorado, Boulder)

-        Flow tube study of α-pinene/ozone reaction with seed dust using ATOFMS

Field Campaign Involvement

               Ice in Clouds Experiment - Layer Clouds (ICE-L)                                    Oct. 1, 2007 - Jan. 5, 2008

-        NCAR/RAF (National Center for Atmospheric Research/ Research Aviation Facility), Broomfield, CO

-        First A-ATOFMS flight-based measurements (C-130); Study of the size-resolved chemical composition of vertical profiles of aerosols and cloud droplet/ice crystal residues

Los Angeles Basin Mobile Study                                                        Aug. 15-21; Aug. 23-26, 2007

-        Long Beach & Riverside, CA

-        Assisted with ATOFMS set-up and troubleshooting (with Andy Ault, Dr. Ying Wang, Cassie Gaston, and Maggie Yandell, UCSD)

Riverside 2006                                                                                                        Aug. 6-25, 2006

-        University of California, Riverside

-        Thermodenuder/A-ATOFMS ambient sampling, Smog chamber studies (with Dr. Rainer Volkamer, UCSD and Prof. Paul Ziemann, UCR)

Study of Organic Aerosols in Riverside (SOAR II)                                        Oct. 26 - Nov. 21, 2005

-        University of California, Riverside

-        Thermodenuder/A-ATOFMS ambient sampling (with Alex Huffman, CU), mVACES concentrator testing (with Dr. Katharine Moore, USC and Dr. Ken Docherty, CU), DMA size-selecting with ATOFMS ambient sampling (with Matt Spencer, UCSD)

Study of Organic Aerosols in Riverside (SOAR I)                                                   Aug. 1-12, 2005

-        University of California, Riverside

-        Ground-based field-testing of A-ATOFMS, including ambient sampling (with John Holecek, Ryan Moffet, & Dr. Gary Poon, UCSD), Thermodenuder/A-ATOFMS ambient sampling (with Alex Huffman, CU), Water-based Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) testing with A-ATOFMS (with Dr. Greg Lewis, Aerosol Dynamics, Inc.)

Study of Organic Aerosols in Riverside (SOAR I)                                                  July 12-16, 2005

-        University of California, Riverside

-        Assisted with ATOFMS trailer set-up

Undergraduate Research           

               Physical Chemistry                                                     May 2001 - May 2002; Aug. 2002 - May 2004

-        Labs of Prof. Karl Mueller & Dr. A. Daniel Jones, PSU Dept. of Chemistry

-        Investigated the thermal degradation of perfluoropolyethers using NMR spectroscopy (solid-state and solution-state) and MALDI mass spectrometry

Physical Chemistry                                                                                                Jan. - Apr. 2004

-        Lab of Prof. Karl Mueller, PSU Dept. of Chemistry

-        Designed, built, and tested a static solid-state ²H NMR probe for other undergraduate institutions

Environmental Chemistry                                                                                    June - Aug. 2002

-        Lab of Prof. Scott Mabury, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Dept. of Chemistry

-        Used ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy to investigate the physical properties of perfluorocarboxylic acids

Environmental Engineering                                                                                  Jan. - Mar. 2001

-        Lab of Prof. Brian Dempsey, PSU Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering

-        Sampled and analyzed streams contaminated by mine drainage

General Chemistry                                                                                                Oct. - Dec. 2000

-        Lab of Dr. Jackie Bortiatynski & Dr. Robert Minard, PSU Dept. of Chemistry

-        Investigated aquarium phosphate removal with activated carbon

High School Summer University Research

            Geochemistry                                                                                                                     July 1999

-        Lab of Prof. Hiroshi Ohmoto, PSU Dept. of Geosciences

-        Investigated the evolutionary history of life through chemical fossils (stable isotopes) in rocks

Geographic Information Systems                                                                                    July 1998

-        Lab of Prof. Rick Day, PSU Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences

-        Watershed evaluation using geographic information systems

Peer-Reviewed Papers

6.   Pratt, K.A., Hatch, L.E., Prather, K.A. Seasonal volatility dependence of ambient particle phase amines. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009, In Press.

5.   Pratt, K.A., DeMott, P.J., French, J.R., Wang, Z., Westphal, D.L., Heymsfield, A.J., Twohy, C.H., Prenni, A.J., Prather, K.A. In situ detection of biological particles in cloud ice-crystals. Nature Geoscience 2009, In Press. (link)

4.   Pratt, K.A., Mayer, J.E., Holecek, J.C., Moffet, R.C., Sanchez, R.O, Rebotier, T.P., Furutani, H., Gonin, M., Fuhrer, K., Su, Y., Guazzotti, S., Prather, K.A. Development and Characterization of an Aircraft Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer. Anal. Chem. 2009, 81, 1792-1800. (link)

3.   Denkenberger, K.A., Bowers, R.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. NMR Studies of the Thermal Degradation of a Perfluoropolyether on the Surfaces of γ-Alumina and Kaolinite. Langmuir. 2007, 23, 8855-8860. (link)

2.     Denkenberger, K.A., Moffet, R.C., Holecek, J.C., Rebotier, T.P., Prather, K.A. Real-Time, Single-Particle Measurements of Oligomers in Aged Ambient Aerosol Particles. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007, 41, 5439-5446. (link)

1.     Ellis, D.A., Denkenberger, K.A., Burrow, T.E., Mabury, S.A. The Use of ¹⁹F NMR to Interpret the Structural Properties of Perfluorocarboxylate Acids: A Possible Correlation with Their Environmental Disposition. J. Phys. Chem. A. 2004, 108, 10099-10106. (link)

Oral Presentations

10.  Pratt, K.A., DeMott, P.J., Twohy, C.H., Prather, K.A. Insights into ice nucleation from real-time, single-particle aircraft-based measurements. 2008 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA, Dec. 15-19, 2008.

9.    Pratt, K.A., Twohy, C.H., Prather, K.A. Flight-based measurements of aerosol chemistry using single-particle mass spectrometry. Invited Seminar, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Richland, WA, Nov. 6, 2008.

8.    Pratt, K.A., Twohy, C.H., Prather, K.A. Flight-based measurements of the role of aerosol chemistry on cloud formation. American Association for Aerosol Research 2008 Annual Conference. Orlando, FL, Oct. 20-24, 2008.

7.    Pratt, K.A., Twohy, C.H., Prather, K.A. Flight-based measurements of aerosol chemistry using single-particle mass spectrometry. Invited Seminar, National Center for Atmospheric Research. Boulder, CO, Sept. 11, 2008.

6.    Pratt, K.A., Twohy, C.H., Prather, K.A. Real-time size-resolved single-particle chemistry measurements during ICE-L. ICE-L Workshop. Boulder, CO, Sept. 8-10, 2008.

5.    Pratt, K.A., Twohy, C.H., Prather, K.A. Role of dry lake bed salts in cloud formation. 10th International Conference on Salt Lake Research. Salt Lake City, UT, May 11-1, 2008.

4.    Pratt, K., Hatch, L., Moision, R., Prather, K. Studies of amines in ambient aerosols using on-line single particle mass spectrometry. Air & Waste Management Association Aerosol & Atmospheric Optics: Visual Air Quality and Radiation. Moab, UT, Apr. 28 - May 2, 2008.

3.    Denkenberger, K., Prather, K. Single particle analysis of the size, chemical composition, and volatility of the Riverside, CA aerosol. 2006 EPA Graduate Fellowship Conference. Washington, DC, Sept. 24-26, 2006.

2.      Denkenberger, K.A., Qin, X., Shields, L., Toner, S., Prather, K. Seasonal variation of aerosol sources and composition in Riverside, CA during the summer and fall (SOAR I and II). 7^th International Aerosol Conference. St. Paul, MN, Sept. 10-15, 2006.

1.      Pratt, K.A., Rivers, R.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. Surface Studies of the Thermal Degradation of a Perfluoropolyether Adsorbed onto γ-Alumina. 7^th Annual Environmental Chemistry Symposium. State College, PA, Mar. 19-20, 2004.

Poster Presentations

29.   Yandell, M.A., Ault, A.P., Pratt, K.A., Wang, Y., Zauscher, M., Gaston, C.J., Prather, K.A. Air pollution transport from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and its impact on the local community. 26th Informal Symposium on Kinetics and Photochemical Processes in the Atmosphere. Riverside, CA, Mar. 5, 2009.

28.   Gaston, C., Pratt, K., Qin, X., Prather, K. Real-time detection and mixing state of methanesulfonate in single aerosol particles in Riverside, CA during a phytoplankton bloom. 26th Informal Symposium on Kinetics and Photochemical Processes in the Atmosphere. Riverside, CA, Mar. 5, 2009.

27.   Pratt, K.A., Twohy, C.H., Gaston, C.J., Murphy, S.M., Heymsfield, A.J., DeMott, P.J., Seinfeld, J.H., Prather, K.A. Dry lakebed salts serve as natural cloud nuclei. 26th Informal Symposium on Kinetics and Photochemical Processes in the Atmosphere. Riverside, CA, Mar. 5, 2009.

26.   Gaston, C., Pratt, K., Qin, X., Prather, K. Real-time detection and mixing state of methanesulfonate in single aerosol particles in Riverside, CA during a phytoplankton bloom. 2008 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA, Dec. 15-19, 2008.

25.   Field, P.R., Heymsfield, A.J., Rogers, D.C., Stith, J., DeMott, P.J., Haimov, S., Murphy, S.J., Pratt, K., Twohy, C., Prather, K., Seinfeld, J.H. Contrasting the ice nucleation in two lee wave clouds observed during the ICE-L campaign. 15th International Conference on Clouds and Precipitation. Cancun, Mexico, July 7-11, 2008.

24.   Pratt, K.A., Twohy, C.H., Prather, K.A. Role of dry lake bed salts in cloud formation. 10th International Conference on Salt Lake Research. Salt Lake City, UT, May 11-16, 2008.

23.   Pratt, K.A., Prather, K.A. Real-time, single-particle flight-based measurements of cloud condensation nuclei. 25^th Informal Symposium on Kinetics and Photochemical Processes in the Atmosphere. Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 20, 2008.

22.   Denkenberger, K.A., Moffet, R.C., Holecek, J.C., Rebotier, T.P., Prather, K.A. Real-time, single-particle measurements of oligomers in aged ambient aerosol particles. 24^th Informal Symposium on Kinetics and Photochemical Processes in the Atmosphere. Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 9, 2007.

21.   Denkenberger, K., Prather, K. New Insights into California Air Quality Issues Using ATOFMS. 2006 EPA Graduate Fellowship Conference. Washington, DC, Sept. 24-26, 2006.

20.   Denkenberger, K.A., Huffman, J.A., Jimenez, J.L., Prather K.A. Characterization of ambient organic aerosols by ATOFMS at the Study of Organic Aerosols in Riverside (SOAR) I and II. 7^th International Aerosol Conference. St. Paul, MN, Sept. 10-15, 2006.

19.   Denkenberger, K.A., Huffman, J.A., Jimenez, J.L., Prather K.A. Characterization of ambient organic aerosols by ATOFMS at the Study of Organic Aerosols in Riverside (SOAR) I and II. 23rd Informal Symposium on Kinetics and Photochemical Processes in the Atmosphere. Pasadena, CA, Feb. 15, 2006.

18.   Denkenberger, K., Mayer, J., Holecek, J., Moffet, R., Poon, G., Sanchez, R., Rebotier, T., Furutani, H., Su, Y., Guazzotti, S., Gonin, M., Fuhrer, K., Prather, K. Development of the Aircraft-Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (A-ATOFMS). American Association for Aerosol Research 2005 Annual Conference. Austin, TX, Oct. 17-21, 2005.

17.   Dagger, J.B., Denkenberger, K., Denkenberger, T., O'Connell, W., Washton, N., Mueller, K. NMR in the Undergraduate Analytical Chemistry Curriculum: Design and Construction of a Static NMR Probe. Regional Conference on NMR Research and Education at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. Lewisburg, PA. Sept. 25, 2004.

16.   Pratt, K.A., Rivers, R.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. Detection of the Degradation of Perfluoropolyethers Adsorbed on Solid Surfaces. 227^th American Chemical Society National Meeting. Anaheim, CA, Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2004.

15.   Denkenberger, T.M., Aldinger, B.S., Agnew, H.D., Bringman, R.E., Pratt, K.A., Amorosi, C.M. Penn State Nittany Chemical Society. 227^th American Chemical Society National Meeting. Anaheim, CA, Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2004.

14.   Pratt, K.A., Rivers, R.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. Surface Studies of the Thermal Degradation of a Perfluoropolyether Adsorbed onto γ-Alumina. 7^th Annual Environmental Chemistry Symposium. University Park, PA, Mar. 19-20, 2004.

13.   Pratt, K.A., Rivers, R.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. Detection of the Degradation of Perfluoropolyethers Adsorbed on Solid Surfaces. PSU Sponsors Days. University Park, PA, Oct. 2003. (Top undergraduate poster)

12.   Pratt, K.A., Rivers, R.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. Detection of the Degradation of Perfluoropolyethers Adsorbed on Solid Surfaces. 45^th Rocky Mountain Conference on Analytical Chemistry. Denver, CO, July 27-31, 2003.

11.   Pratt, K.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. Environmental Chemistry: Determination of the Physical Properties of Perfluorinated Acids Using ¹⁹F NMR. 2003 PSU Undergraduate Exhibition. State College, PA, Apr. 1-2, 2003.

10.   Pratt, K.A., Ellis, D.A., Burrow, T.E., Mabury, S.A. Determination of the Physical Properties of Perfluorinated Acids using ¹⁹F NMR. 225^th American Chemical Society National Meeting. New Orleans, LA, Mar. 23-27, 2003.

9.    Milks, K.J., Agnew, H.D., Bringman, R.E., Pratt, K.A., Aldinger, B.S., Hartman, N.T., Denkenberger, T.M., Mahoney, J., Minard, R.D. Penn State's Nittany Chemical Society. 225^th American Chemical Society National Meeting. New Orleans, LA, Mar. 23-27, 2003.

8.    Pratt, K.A., Ellis, D.A., Burrow, T.E., Mabury, S.A. Environmental Chemistry: Determination of the Physical Properties of Perfluorinated Acids using ¹⁹F NMR. 6^th Annual Environmental Chemistry Symposium. State College, PA, Mar. 21-22, 2003.

7.      Pratt, K.A., Ellis, D.A., Burrow, T.E., Mabury, S.A. Environmental Chemistry: Determination of the Physical Properties of Perfluorinated Acids Using ¹⁹F NMR. 17^th National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Salt Lake City, UT, Mar. 13-15, 2003.

6.     Pratt, K.A., Jones, A.D., Mueller, K.T. Surface Studies of the Thermal Degradation of a Perfluoropolyether Adsorbed onto γ-Alumina. PSU Sponsors Days. State College, PA, Oct. 2002.

5.     Pratt, K.A., Mueller, K.T., Jones, A.D. Do Minerals Affect the Degradation of Persistant Fluorinated Polymers in the Environment? 2002 PSU Undergraduate Exhibition. State College, PA, Apr. 4-5, 2002.

4.     Pratt, K.A., Mueller, K.T., Jones, A.D. Do Minerals Affect the Degradation of Persistant Fluorinated Polymers in the Environment? 5^th Annual Environmental Chemistry Symposium. State College, PA, Mar. 22-23, 2002. (2^nd place poster Analysis of Soils & Sediments division)

3.     Pratt, K.A., Bortiatynski, J., Minard, R. Aquarium Phosphate Removal with Activated Carbon. 2001 PSU Undergraduate Exhibition. State College, PA, Mar. 21-22, 2001.

2.      Pratt, K.A., Ohmoto, H. The Evolutionary History of Life Through Chemical Fossils in Rocks. 1999 Women in the Sciences & Engineering Week Symposium. University Park, PA, July 1999.

1.     Pratt, K.A., Day, R. The Use of a Geographic Information System for Hydrologic Modeling. 1998 Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences Research Symposium. University Park, PA, July 1998. (One of top 5 projects out of 64)

University of California, San Diego: Teaching Assistant

-       CHEM 4 (Basic Chemistry), Fall 2005, lab instruction and grading

-     CHEM 100B (Instrumental Analysis), Spring 2005, lab instruction and grading

-     CHEM 6B (General Chemistry II), Winter 2005, 3 discussion sections, grading, and tutoring

-     CHEM 6BL (General Chemistry I Lab), Fall 2004, lab instruction (2 sections)

Pennsylvania State University: Instructor

-        Action Potential Science Camp, June 2004, 5^th grade classroom instructor for 1 week summer chemistry camp

Pennsylvania State University: Teaching Assistant

-        CHEM 35 (Organic Chemistry), Spring 2004, lab instruction and grading

-        Chemistry Instrument Room, Fall 2003 - Spring 2004, assisted organic chemistry lab students with instrumentation

-        CHEM 14H (Honors Experimental Chemistry I), Fall 2003, assisted students with lab projects

-        SOILS 101 (Introductory Soils), Fall 2001, lab instruction

Pennsylvania State University: Curriculum Development

-        Assisted Dr. Robert Minard in the development of an Environmental Chemistry Option for the PSU Chemistry major (2001-2003)

Pennsylvania State University: Grader

-        MATH 17 (Finite Mathematics) and MATH 140E (Calculus with Analytic Geometry I for Engineers)

University of California, San Diego:

-        Scripps Institution of Oceanography Birch Aquarium: Scientific contributor to Feeling the Heat: the Climate Challenge, a multi-year public exhibit (2007-2008); 2009 Family Day (May)

-        Chemistry outreach volunteer (2004 - present)

-   ATOFMS elementary school outreach: Centre Valley Elem. School (May 2008), Paul Ecke-Central Elem. School (June 2008)

-   2008 Expanding Your Horizons - USS Midway overnight; 2006 ChemExpo; 2005 Sally Ride Science Festival forensics workshop; 2005 Expanding Your Horizons - forensics workshop

-        Memberships: American Association for Aerosol Research (2004-present), American Chemical Society (2003-present), American Geophysical Union (2008-present), American Meteorological Society (2009), Air & Waste Management Association (2008-present), Earth Science Women's Network (2008-present)

Community:

-        Adult Girl Scout volunteer (2000-present)

-      Adult leadership training; 2008 Cookie Kick-off volunteer (CA); 2006 Bridging Ceremony volunteer (CA); SWEET Workshop 2006 volunteer (CA); Pick & Choose: It's up to You! 2001 Wider Opportunity volunteer (PA); Pow-wow at Camp Golden Pond 2001 5^th grade unit leader (PA)

-        Memberships: Sierra Club (2005-present), Trout Unlimited (2005-2007)

-        Centre County Parks & Recreation Special Needs Ice Skating Volunteer (2001)

-        Endless Mountains Alternate Maple Queen (2000-2001)

-      Attended carnivals, fairs, and PA State Farm Show to inform the public about the production of maple products; gave elementary school presentations.

Pennsylvania State University:

-        Nittany Chemical Society (2001 - 2004); treasurer (2002 -2004)

-      Helped organize and participated in the annual NCS Halloween Magic Shows, National Federation of the Blind liquid nitrogen ice cream social, booth at the 2003 State College Arts Festival (reaching over 1,000 children), & other various activities

-        Campus Girl Scouts (2000 - 2004); president (2002 - 2003), vice president (2003)

-        Environmental Chemistry Symposium committee member (2004)

-        Science outreach volunteer (2003)

-      Girls Utilizing Technology & Science (GUTS) workshop volunteer; created experiment for children's camp (Another Wizard's World: Potions)

-        Beaver Stadium Post-Game Recycling Volunteer (2000 - 2002)

-        Environmental Resource Management Club (2000 - 2001); publicity chair (2001)

-        Environmental Engineering Society (2000)

-      Taught children at the annual Spring Creek Day at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center