Simonich Lab Bios

Staci Simonich | staci.simonich@oregonstate.edu

Associate Professor, Ph.D., Indiana University

Regional and global environmental fate, transport, and deposition of semi-volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, aquatic, and terrestrial compartments.

Novel and improved analytical methods and techniques for studying the fate of semi-volatile organic contaminants in the environment.

Validation of regional and global environmental fate models for semi-volatile organic compounds.

Shejun Chen, Ph.D | shejun.chen@oregonstate.edu

I am a visiting scientist from Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences until October 2010. My current general research focuses on 1) human exposure of halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) like halogenated flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, and halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the indoor environment of South China, and 2) air-plant exchange of HOCs in an e-waste area of South China, aiming to understand the mechanisms of the exchange, the potential significant influence of the vegetation coverage on the fate and transport of atmospheric HOCs, and their long range atmospheric transport.

Julie Denham | denhamj@onid.orst.edu

I’m a senior in Chemistry/Biology and will be graduating June 2011 with a Bachelor's of Science in each.  My research is part of a National Park Service project titled “A Link Between Reproductive Abnormalities and Contaminants in Fish from the Rocky Mountains.” The overall objectives of the project are to determine the spatial extent of elevated Vitellogenin levels, intersex, and semi-volatile organic compound (SOC) concentrations within Rocky Mountain fish. I am responsible for sample processing and analysis of current and historic-use pesticides, PAHs, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish using GC/MS.

Leah Gonzales | gonzalel@onid.orst.edu

I am Oregon native and second-year MS student in Chemistry. My research is on halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (X-PAHs). X-PAHs are formed from many sources, including municipal and electronic waste incineration. X-PAHs are mutagenic, carcinogenic, and have toxic potentials similar to polychlorinated dibenzodioxins. It is important to study X-PAHs because of the rate at which electronic waste is disposed of, as well as the risk associated with them. I am working on developing an analytical method for measuring XPAHs in air samples from China.

Narumol Jariyasopit | jariyasn@onid.orst.edu

I am a second-year PhD candidate in Chemistry from Thailand. The current research is on characterizing air samples during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, specifically focusing on the nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs). In the future, as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can undergo photochemical reactions in the atmosphere forming more toxic PAH derivatives, our goal is to measure the effect of photochemical reaction on the PAH composition of size-fractioned Asian particulate matter during trans-Pacific transport.

Yuling Jia
Ph.D., Rice University | yuling.jia@oregonstate.edu

I joined Dr. Staci Simonich’s lab in October 2009 as a Post-doc on the NIEHS-sponsored Superfund Research Project on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). My research involves the sampling of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) for analysis of PAH compositions and sources. My current research focuses on method development for analyzing high-molecular-weight PAHs (MW>300) in complex air matrix using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.  Ambient PM samples collected concurrently at three sampling sites (Peking University in Beijing, China, Mt. Bachelor Observatory in the cascade range, and Umatilla Indian Reservation in eastern Oregon) are analyzed for PAH speciation. Assessment of Tran-Pacific transport of PAH emissions from Asia and regional source emissions in the western US is achieved based on the PAH speciation data, satellite images and air trajectory models. In the near future, personal air sampling will also be conducted in the Beijing-Tianjin metropolitan area and the Umatilla Indian Reservation to study the personal exposure to PAHs in the Chinese and American Indian populations.  Prior to joining OSU, I worked as an academic professional at Arizona State University and graduate research assistant at Rice University on the chemical speciation and source apportionment of ambient PM with a focus on characterizing the biologically derived PM sources using saccharides as markers.

Carlos Manzano | manzanoc@onid.orst.edu

I am from Ecuador, and like any other South American person, soccer is in my blood. I also love science and that’s what brought me to Oregon. I'm a second-year PhD candidate in Chemistry. My research focuses in the development of a GCxGC system for isotope analysis of PAHs for combustion source identification. The sources for atmospheric PAHs is different in Asian and North American countries. It is widely understood that the products of combustion have 13-C signatures that are closely related to that of the organic matter combusted such as coal, diesel, and straw. In this way, knowing the 13-C of PAHs found in atmospheric environments we can make an approach of where they come from. For this purpose I want to use GCxGC with columns of different properties and various data analysis methods to be able to have a better understanding of the 13-C signature of PAHs and their transport to the Pacific Northwest.

Oleksii Motorykin | motoryko@onid.orst.edu

I am a first first-year PhD candidate in Chemistry from Ukraine currently investigating a link between the occurrence of lung cancer and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions, smoking rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) in European countries. I am interested in developing a model to describe this relationship and then predict lung cancer risk for other countries based on the above parameters.

Jill Schrlau | jill.schrlau@oregonstate.edu

I received a MS in Chemistry in 2007 and now work as a faculty research assistant. My responsibilities include training and mentoring students, providing GC/MS advice, and managing the lab where needed. I am involved with all the current projects including the Superfund Research Program “Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: New Technologies and Emerging Health Risks,” The National Park Service project  “A Link Between Reproductive Abnormalities and Contaminants in Fish from the Rocky Mountains,” and analytical method development for high molecular weight PAHs. I also assist with air sampling events at Mt. Bachelor, OR and Pendleton, OR.