Ilana Pollack – PROGRESS

Dr. Ilana Pollack, Atmospheric Research Scientist

Ilana operating instruments in-flight aboard the NOAA P-3 atmospheric research

Setting up instrument inlets at a ground-based field site.

Ilana Pollack, Research Scientist in Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University

Education and experience

2014 – Present: Research Scientist at the Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

2009 – 2014: Research Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via University of Colorado’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, Boulder, CO, USA

2005 – 2009: Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA

2004 – 2005: Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

2004: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1999: B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA

My interests

My research interests have largely focused on identifying emission sources of ozone precursors (namely nitrogen oxides and VOCs) and then quantifying their effects on tropospheric oxidant cycling relevant to regional air quality. I also love spending time in the great outdoors. I am an avid cyclist, runner, skier, and hiker. This past fall I conquered my first ever Iron(wo)man triathlon.

How I became a scientist

From an early age I had interests in science, math, and art. Since I never saw my art skills developing into a profitable career, I chose the science and math pathway. I excelled in physics and chemistry in high school, and thus decided upon physical chemistry for my undergraduate and graduate educations. My stubbornness to leave a freshman chemistry lab one afternoon caught the attention of my college professor, who offered me an opportunity to do hands-on research with his group. A similar opportunity prior to my first year of graduate school propelled me to the forefront of my graduate class and allowed me to finish my degree in under 5 years. Following graduate school, I took a big leap from physical chemistry to a more applied research career in atmospheric science. Now, I make in-situ measurements of atmospheric trace gases relevant to air quality from various measurement platforms including research aircraft and ground-based monitoring stations.

How my work benefits society

My research has been instrumental in understanding changes in Los Angeles air quality since the 1960s. My analysis synthesizes 50 years of measurements of air pollutants and their precursors (nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) from research aircraft, roadside monitors, and surface networks. Long-term trends in these species showed that large reductions in VOCs, which are mainly emitted from motor vehicles in L.A., were the key to successfully reducing pollutants like ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in this region. Ozone and PAN are major components of smog and are well-known respiratory and eye irritants for humans. My work showed that policymaker’s decisions in the 1960’s to reduce VOC emissions from motor vehicles were successful for decreasing pollutant concentrations in L.A., and that further reductions in local air pollutants in the future will require reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides.

My publication about LA air quality doi:10.1002/Jgrd.50472 generated a buzz in the media: CIRES press release, NOAA press release, LiveScience article, AGU Newsroom article, The Renewables” 5-part talking points memo.