Mission Areas

 

Research Topics

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Autonomous systems
  • Data analytics
  • Earth system modeling
  • Photonics/optical sensors
  • Satellite remote sensing
  • Sensors
  • UAV research
  • Wireless communication

The Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) Lab, formerly known as the ARROMA Lab, studies the impacts of aerosol pollution on air quality, weather, and climate. Research approaches include satellite remote sensing and use of numerical models to study atmospheric composition, agriculture, Earth systems, and climate change.


 

Director

Portrait of Jun Wang

Jun Wang, PhD

Title/Position
Assistant Director, Iowa Technology Institute
Director, Atmospheric and Environmental Research Lab
Interim DEO, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
James E. Ashton Professor of Engineering
Lorena Castro

Lorena Castro, PhD

Title/Position
Assistant Research Scientist
Xi Chen

Xi Chen, PhD

Title/Position
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Photo of Megan Christiansen

Megan Christiansen, PhD

Title/Position
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Photo of Lakhima Chutia

Lakhima Chutia, PhD

Title/Position
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Photo of Weizhi Deng

Weizhi Deng

Title/Position
Graduate Research Assistant
Photo of Ronak Ghanbari

Ronak Ghanbari

Title/Position
Graduate Research Assistant
Photo of Vincent Hodges

Vincent Hodges

Title/Position
Undergraduate Research Assistant
william julstrom

Will Julstrom

Title/Position
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Photo of Hyerim Kim

Hyerim Kim

Title/Position
Graduate Research Assistant
Chengzhe Li

Chengzhe Li

Title/Position
Graduate Research Assistant
Zhendong Lu

Zhendong Lu

Title/Position
Graduate Research Assistant
Photo of Cheryl Reuben

Cheryl Reuben

Title/Position
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Photo of Steve Tammes

Steve Tammes

Title/Position
Graduate Research Assistant
Photo of Jerry Sheng

Jerry (Sheng) Wang

Title/Position
Research Assistant
Qiyu Wang

Qiyu Wang

Title/Position
Graduate Research Assistant
Photo of May Xue

Zhixin (May) Xue, PhD

Title/Position
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Photo of Jing Zeng

Jing Zeng, PhD

Title/Position
Research Staff
Jessie Zhang

Huanxin (Jessie) Zhang, PhD

Title/Position
Assistant Research Scientist

Featured Research

Forest Fire Detection and Visibility

Smart and Connected Low-Cost Environmental Sensors

Unified Linearized Vector Radiative Transfer Model

AER Lab News

Photo of Cheryl Reuben

Univ. of Iowa student highlights importance of engineering research

Friday, February 23, 2024
Cheryl Reuben is an undergraduate research assistant in the Atmospheric and Environmental Research Lab.
Jun Wang poses for a photo

Iowa engineer's NASA instrument probes atmospheric pollutants Professor Jun Wang’s space research helps scientists understand the effects of wildfires and a global decline in air quality.

Monday, February 12, 2024
Professor Jun Wang’s space research helps scientists understand the effects of wildfires and a global decline in air quality.
Jun Wang stands in front of a computer sceen

UI professor’s work now in space, monitoring air quality on Earth

Friday, January 5, 2024
Just after midnight on April 7 along the eastern coast of Florida, Jun Wang saw a blinding light burst across a harbor, followed by a mighty roar. It was a SpaceX rocket lifting off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and starting its ascent into space. With his wife and two of his kids by his side, Wang watched the rocket climb higher and higher into the inky sky — carrying years of his research with it.
Wildfire royalty free

Wildfires have erased two decades’ worth of air quality gains in western US

Monday, December 4, 2023
Jun Wang is the lead corresponding author on a new study that has tabulated the toll from two decades of wildfires on air quality and human health in the continental U.S.
Jun Wang poses for a photo

University of Iowa engineers contribute to one of Time Magazine’s 'best inventions' of 2023

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
CBE professor Jun Wang is an investigator on NASA’s TEMPO, which Time Magazine has named one of its best inventions of 2023. The space instrument is expected to help scientists understand the sources of pollution by revolutionizing how real-time air quality data is collected.
Case Colloquium

Lixin Wang: Drought characterization and impacts on agriculture and natural ecosystems

Friday, November 18, 2022
Lixin Wang, a professor at the Department of Earth Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, was the featured speaker of the Climate / Atmospheric Science & Engineering (CASE) Colloquium series on Nov. 18, 2022. The presentation was titled "Drought characterization and impacts on agriculture and natural ecosystems."
Case Colloquium

Ping Jing: Community Air Research Experience: Engaging Undergraduate Students in Research on Air Pollution in Chicago Communities

Friday, November 11, 2022
Ping Jing, a professor at the School of Environmental Sustainability at Loyola University Chicago, was the featured speaker of the Climate / Atmospheric Science & Engineering (CASE) Colloquium series on Nov. 11, 2022. The presentation was titled "Community Air Research Experience: Engaging Undergraduate Students in Research on Air Pollution in Chicago Communities."
Hyerim Kim

UI graduate student Hyerim Kim wins award at 16th Conference on Atmospheric Radiation

Friday, September 16, 2022
Hyerim Kim, a University of Iowa graduate student in chemical and biochemical engineering, earned a second place award at the 16th Conference on Atmospheric Radiation, held as part of the 2022 Collective Madison Meeting in August.
Jun Wang - Justin Torner image 2021

UI professor Jun Wang receives 2022 Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award

Friday, September 9, 2022
Jun Wang, a University of Iowa professor of chemical and biochemical engineering, was announced as American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) 2022 Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award recipient. The Ascent Award recognizes excellence in research and leadership in the atmospheric and climate sciences from honorees between eight and 20 years of receiving their PhD. 
AMS Meng Shou

Zhou earns best oral presentation at American Meteorological Society meeting

Monday, September 5, 2022
A research assistant, Meng Zhou, at the University of Iowa Technology Institute earned the 1st place Outstanding Oral Presentation award at the 25th Conference on Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography, and Climatology in August.
DHS VIsit

CBJ: Homeland Security officials visit University of Iowa campus

Saturday, August 20, 2022
Leaders of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) HQ Office of Academic Engagement (OAE) visited the University of Iowa campus to gain an Iowa perspective on national security-related topics, a post on the college’s website states.
Jun Wang in front of IATL

UI researchers: Can community scientists help battle urban heat and air pollution?

Wednesday, August 10, 2022
University of Iowa researchers conducted a novel investigation into whether community scientists could map air quality and improve urban health at a time when extreme heat and air pollution threaten large cities.  
Traci Silas

Homeland Security officials visit University of Iowa campus

Friday, August 5, 2022
Leaders of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) HQ Office of Academic Engagement (OAE) visited the University of Iowa campus to gain an Iowa perspective on national security-related topics.  
Portrait of Jun Wang

University of Iowa researchers selected to aid NASA mission

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Jun Wang, assistant director of the Iowa Technology Institute, was named the principal investigator for two NASA grants worth $1.56 million. NASA’s TEMPO mission, set to launch this year, is intended to revolutionize air quality forecasting. TEMPO, which stands for Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution, is a space-based ultraviolet and visible spectrometer scheduled to be launched into space aboard a commercial satellite — after nearly ten years of planning — before the year is over.
TEMPO Satellite

UI professor awarded $1.56 million to aid NASA’s TEMPO mission

Wednesday, May 25, 2022
University of Iowa researchers specializing in atmospheric sciences were selected to aid NASA’s TEMPO mission that’s set to launch this year. TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution) is intended to revolutionize air quality forecasting. 
Portrait of Jun Wang

UI researcher wins funding to study regional air quality

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Jun Wang, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering and James E. Ashton Professor in Engineering, has been awarded $1.55 million to improve regional air quality monitoring from space.
Zeyuan Ru

Ru honored by AGU Atmospheric Sciences Section for "outstanding" presentation

Friday, May 6, 2022
Zeyuan Ru, a University of Iowa Technology Institute graduate research assistant, has been recognized by the AGU Atmospheric Sciences Section. Ru works with Prof. Jun Wang and is a graduate student at the College of Engineering.
Xi Chen

ITI postdoc Xi Chen presents new machine-learning based approach to predict light scattering properties

Friday, May 6, 2022
Dr. Xi Chen, working with Prof. Joe Gomes and Prof. Jun Wang, published their collaborative work presenting a new, machine-learning based, approach to predict light scattering properties of non-spherical dust particles. The approach will have wide applications in satellite remote sensing and climate model predictions. Chen, Gomes, and Wang are affiliated with the University of Iowa Technology Institute.
Jun Wang adjusting an atmospheric sensor

Earth Month: University of Iowa lab developing sensors to help farmers plan irrigation

Thursday, March 31, 2022
University of Iowa Technology Institute faculty, staff, and student researchers are developing a low-cost canopy sensor system to help farmers set more efficient irrigation schedules and plan their day-to-day operations for the crop fields.
Jun Wang and AER Lab

UI professor collaborates with NOAA to measure air pollution

Thursday, February 10, 2022
Jun Wang, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at the University of Iowa, is trying to create a mechanism to have exact measures of air pollution and fine particles.
GEO XO

Wang’s NOAA grant to support “next leap forward” in estimating surface PM2.5

Monday, January 24, 2022
The University of Iowa Technology Institute and Prof. Jun Wang are participating in a new satellite mission that is expected to lead to more accurate measures of pollution, including fine particles, on hourly timescales. 
NASA Sage III

UI convenes international team of experts to update NASA’s SAGE III mission

Monday, December 6, 2021
The University of Iowa and Prof. Jun Wang hosted a nationwide team of approximately 60 scientists and engineers virtually in November to share the scientific advances, research findings, and operations related to the SAGE III mission, an Earth-observing instrument aboard NASA’s International Space Station.
Visitors and researchers interacting at the ITI open house

ITI Open House showcases research diversity of faculty, staff, and students

Wednesday, October 20, 2021
The University of Iowa Technology Institute (ITI) hosted a research open house to celebrate the excellence and diversity of research being conducted by faculty, staff, and students.
Wang Presentation

Jun Wang: Environmental sensing from space and in agricultural fields

Monday, October 4, 2021
University of Iowa Professor Jun Wang's presentation on Sept. 14, 2021, to the Geography Department is titled "Environmental sensing from space and in agricultural fields."
Jun Wang Meng Zhou

Iowa PhD student Meng Zhou awarded NASA research fellowship

Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Meng Zhou, a fourth-year PhD student conducting research at the University of Iowa Technology Institute (ITI), has been awarded a NASA research fellowship to study air quality at night. 
CASE Colloquium 8.25

Bradley Cramer: Nutrients, Teratology, and Extinction Events in the Geological Record and an introduction to the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

Wednesday, August 25, 2021
The University of Iowa's Climate/Atmospheric Science & Engineering (CASE) Colloquium continued on Aug. 25, 2021, with featured speaker Bradley D. Cramer, UI associate professor of Earth and environmental sciences. The CASE Colloquium is presented by the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research and the Iowa Technology Institute. 
forestfire

NASA awards UI engineering professor $1.3 million and leadership role to study effects of wildfires

Wednesday, August 25, 2021
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded University of Iowa Technology Institute (ITI) scientist Jun Wang grants totaling $1.3 million to study atmospheric and climate impacts from wildfires that have ravaged parts of the planet.
Jun Wang - Justin Torner image 2021

Jun Wang discusses space research on 1540 KXEL following Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin launches

Monday, July 26, 2021
Spurred by the recent high-profile Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic launches, one of University of Iowa's top scientists joined News Talk 1540 KXEL AM radio of Waterloo on July 21, 2021, for a wide-ranging discussion about space-based research as interest in space travel and curiosity about the cosmos surges.
NASA Earth

UI scientists to expand space-based research on campus through new P3 grant

Friday, June 18, 2021
Faculty members from the Iowa Technology Institute, a research arm of the College of Engineering (CoE), are contributing to a new space-based, interdisciplinary research enterprise designed to strengthen University of Iowa’s competitiveness for NASA funding for space missions and instruments.
Redemann event

Jens Redemann: Observations of Atmospheric Aerosol Properties and Their Use to Constrain Models at Various Scales

Monday, May 24, 2021
Dr. Jens Redemann, of the University of Oklahoma, was the featured speaker at the University of Iowa CASE Colloquium on May 21, 2021. The topic was Observations of Atmospheric Aerosol Properties and Their Use to Constrain Models at Various Scales.
Jun Wang soil emissions

Iowa researchers develop new model using satellite data to measure air pollution from soil

Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Research started at the University of Iowa Technology Institute has led to a new assessment model that scientists believe will yield more accurate estimates of nitrogen oxides from soil, which are increasingly responsible for air pollution.
Meng Zhou AMS

ITI researcher takes 1st place at American Meteorological Society annual meeting

Tuesday, March 9, 2021
An Iowa Technology Institute research assistant earned top honors for his presentation exploring the capture of aerosol data from satellite observations at night at the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society.
Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite

Iowans advise NASA on which satellites should stay in orbit

Monday, January 11, 2021
A pair of Iowans – professors from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University – helped to shape the future of NASA by evaluating the agency’s satellite missions and recommending which satellites should stay in orbit.
Lightning-NOAA

Undergraduate ITI researchers analyze weather phenomenons at Naval Research Lab

Monday, November 30, 2020
University of Iowa undergraduate research assistants in the Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) Lab leveraged data analysis skills learned at Iowa to study emissions-related weather phenomenons while working for the Marine Meteorology Division of the Naval Research Lab (NRL) over the summer. 
Photo of a weather sensor in a corn field

Iowa public university collaboration leverages NASA data to benefit farming and education

Monday, November 9, 2020
Connecting valuable NASA data and Iowans who could benefit from them most is at the heart of a new multidisciplinary, multi-university grant from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium called the Infrastructure for Data-Advanced Research and Education (I-DARE).
Wang and Zhang

CDC recognizes ITI researchers' 'exceptional approach to solving a public health problem'

Wednesday, September 23, 2020
University of Iowa Technology Institute (ITI) researchers were recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as being among the nation’s best for their "exceptional approach to solving a public health problem.”
Engineering Building

ITI faculty among eight to receive named professorships in engineering

Monday, September 14, 2020
Two University of Iowa Technology Institute faculty affiliates are among eight faculty members from the College of Engineering (COE) to receive named professorships and chairs, which are among the highest university honors faculty members can receive.
Jun Wang

Newly named Atmospheric and Environmental Research Lab reflects Wang's expanding scope of discovery

Tuesday, August 25, 2020
The Lab for Aerosol, Radiation, Remote-sensing, and Observation-based Modeling of Atmosphere - better known as the ARROMA Lab, is now called the Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) Lab.
Jun Wang

Faculty Feature: Jun Wang

Thursday, August 6, 2020
Fascination with wind patterns and atmospheric conditions blossomed into a career in academic research addressing some of the biggest environmental challenges facing our world and inspiring the next generation of researchers as a mentor and teacher. Jun Wang's work has been recognized with the James E. Ashton Professorship in Engineering, effective July 1, 2020, with an initial term of five years.
AER Weather Sensor

Future of Farming, UI professor develops smart sensor for farm irrigation

Thursday, May 16, 2019
Farming across the midwest is about to get a lot smarter thanks to smart sensors being developed at the University of Iowa.
Jun Wang working on the computer

University of Iowa receives $1.6 million grant to develop new farming technology

Thursday, April 4, 2019
The University of Iowa has been awarded a $1.6 million grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to design and build devices that could one day connect farmers from all over the world.