Brent Williams

Focus

Chemical properties of atmospheric and indoor gases and particles

Research

Brent Williams’ research interests focus on the exploration of the composition, chemistry and physical properties of Earth’s atmosphere to determine the role of biogenic and anthropogenic gases and particles in Earth’s climate system and their impact on human health. Recent work also incorporates the chemistry of indoor environments. Current projects include the study of particle formation from biomass combustion, secondary particle formation from photochemical aging, indoor/outdoor pollutant exchange, and novel instrumentation development.

Biography

Professor Williams joined the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis in 2010. Previously, he served as a post-doctoral associate at the University of Minnesota Particle Technology Laboratory and as a post-doctoral scientist at Aerodyne Research, Inc.

As a PhD student at the University of California-Berkeley, he developed novel organic aerosol measurement instrumentation, and deployed and operated this instrumentation in multiple large-scale international and domestic field campaigns to determine the sources and transformation processes of atmospheric particles.

Professor Williams currently serves as the Raymond R. Tucker Distinguished InCEES Career Development Associate Professor and is the Director of the Washington University Climate Change Program. He has previously served as the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) chair of the Aerosol Chemistry working group and chair of the Instrumentation working group, and in 2018 served as the co-technical chair of the International Aerosol Conference (IAC).

Affiliations

• Center for Aerosol Science and Engineering (CASE)
• International Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (InCEES)