Dr. Albert Presto

Biography

Albert Presto is a Research Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and serves as the Director of the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies (CAPS). His research primarily focuses on pollutant emissions from energy extraction and consumption, as well as the subsequent atmospheric transformations that these emissions undergo. Presto investigates the contributions of primary and secondary pollution through ambient measurements, laboratory experiments, source testing, and atmospheric modeling. His multi-disciplinary approach enables a holistic understanding of pollutant emissions and their transformations in the atmosphere. Beyond environmental impacts, Presto pays special attention to the adverse health effects of pollutants, particularly ozone and particulate matter. He collaborates with medical professionals to develop detailed studies of pollutant exposure on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, aiming to uncover the relationships between pollutant emissions and adverse health outcomes, such as childhood asthma.

Research Interests