Professor Dr. Ryan Sullivan

Biography

Ryan Sullivan is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he is a faculty member at the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies. His background includes atmospheric analytical chemistry and single-particle analysis focusing on heterogeneous kinetics and cloud nucleation research. His research interests encompass the development of improved aircraft-deployable analytical instrumentation designed to characterize individual particles in the atmosphere in real-time. The instruments developed in his lab are employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of atmospheric particles emitted from a variety of sources and the chemical processes that govern atmospheric transport and the ability of particles to nucleate cloud droplets and ice crystals, thereby altering cloud properties in Earth’s climate. His research combines instrument development, laboratory experiments, and field measurements. He actively investigates the physicochemical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles through custom single-particle instruments to measure key properties rapidly, enhancing the understanding of their behavior and their implications for air quality and climate feedbacks.

Research Interests