Air quality & aerosols
Measurement systems, aerosol behavior, exposure, smoke, ash, particulate matter, and the practical realities of collecting defensible field data.
Research & engineering
Measure the real system. Build the infrastructure. Translate the result.
My work focuses on environmental and public-health questions where instrumentation, field execution, physical science, data engineering, and decision-making all matter.
Research themes
Six connected areas of practice.
Healthy buildings
Engineering approaches that connect ventilation, filtration, pressurization, occupancy, energy use, and human health.
Sensors & field systems
Low-cost sensors, custom instrumentation, remote deployments, QA/QC, fleet health, logistics, and systems designed for real users outside the lab.
Data infrastructure
Flask applications, PostgreSQL databases, APIs, geospatial workflows, dashboards, automated alerts, and research operations platforms.
Household energy
Clean cooking, energy access, laboratory methods, international standards, technical training, and the climate-health consequences of household energy choices.
Programs & teams
Moving complex projects from idea to execution: proposals, partnerships, budgets, laboratories, field teams, students, vendors, and stakeholder communication.
How I work
Integrated programs, not isolated analyses.
01Start with the decision. Define what the work must enable before selecting a method or building a tool.
02Design for field reality. Account for people, logistics, failure modes, calibration, maintenance, and imperfect buildings or devices.
03Preserve traceability. Treat metadata, validation, provenance, and audit trails as part of the science.
04Build for translation. Make outputs useful to participants, partners, agencies, communities, and other researchers.
Recent focus
Applied work in smoke, indoor air, and distributed monitoring.
Shantanu Jathar and Christian L’Orange lead groundbreaking study on wildland–urban interface fires
Field and laboratory work focused on emissions and health-relevant hazards created when wildfire reaches the built environment.
Read more ↗CSU professors launch study to determine hazards of smoke and ash from L.A. fire
Rapid-response research examining hazards associated with smoke and ash from structure-impacted fires.
Read more ↗NSF funds $2 million CSU project aimed at keeping air inside homes healthy
Engineering, monitoring, and healthy-housing work aimed at protecting indoor environments from outdoor pollution while accounting for real buildings and occupants.
Read more ↗What is the best mask for COVID-19? A mechanical engineer explains the science
Mask testing, public guidance, and applied aerosol studies supporting healthcare, state response, and performing-arts organizations.
Read more ↗