Jason Surratt
Professor, Jointly Appointed with Gillings School of Global Public Health
Rosenau Hall 164(919) 966-0470
surratt@unc.edu
Group Website
Curriculum Vitae
Research Interests
Atmospheric analytical chemistry, Atmospheric chemistry, Environmental chemistry, Chromatographic techniques, Mass spectrometry, Multiphase chemistry, Organic aerosol chemistry
Research Synopsis
Professor Surratt specializes in atmospheric chemistry fundamentals. Dr. Surratt's lab utilizes advanced mass spectrometry and chromatographic techniques to understand as deeply as possible the atmospheric chemistry that occurs in both the gas and particulate phases, with special focus on the chemistry leading to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA).
Since SOA is a major fraction of atmospheric fine particulate matter, chemically characterizing it resolves its sources and impacts on climate, air quality, and public health. By using this approach, Dr. Surratt has helped to reveal the detailed chemical pathways leading to SOA formation from the atmospheric oxidation of isoprene (the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon on Earth) in the presence of anthropogenic pollutants.
Professor Surratt is also interested in applying analytical chemistry tools to study emerging pollutants (e.g., PFASs and electronic cigarettes) in fine particulate matter collected from indoor and outdoor air. By applying analytical chemistry tools to emerging pollutants, we can better assess the sources, potential transformations, and ultimate fates of these chemicals in the environment. This work aids in risk assessment and potential public health impacts.
Professional Background
Professor Surratt earned his B.S. in Meteorology and B.A. in Chemistry from NC State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology. Since 2010, Surratt has been teaching in the Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering here at UNC Chapel Hill. He has also served as Program Director of the N.C. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Testing Network since 2018.
Dr. Surratt's research combines synthetic, organic, and atmospheric analytical chemistry with toxicogenomics, toxicology and systems biology.
Awards, Accomplishments, & Service:
Health Effects Institute (HEI) Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award, 2012; American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) Sheldon K. Friedlander Award, 2013; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Early Career Award, 2013; Camille & Henry Dreyfus Environmental Chemistry Mentor, 2013; Ruth and Philip Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement, UNC-CH, 2015; ACS James J. Morgan Environmental Science & Technology Early Career Award Lectureship, 2016; Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics; Co-Editor, 2016-Present; Newton Underwood Award for Excellence in Teaching, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2017 & 2020; ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, Editorial Board Member, 2017-Present; ACS ES&T Letters Selected Highly Prolific Authors, 2017; Elected to the Board of Directors for AAAR, 2017-2020; Teaching Innovation Award, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2018; ACS ES&T Letters 2018 Best Paper Award for “Effect of Aerosol-Phase State on Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from the Reactive Uptake of Isoprene-Derived Epoxydiols (IEPOX),” 2019.
Research Group
News & Publications
Herein, we present a direct liquid injection method for external calibration, providing detection limits of 0.19–3.1 pptv for 3 s averaging and 0.02–0.44 pptv for 120 s averaging, with the exception of E2, which had detection limits of 1700 and 220 pptv for 3- and 120 s averaging, respectively.
Here, we showed that particulate 2-MT and 2-MG collected at multiple monitoring sites under a wide range of atmospheric and emission conditions.