Abigail Koss Email & Phone Number

Boulder Co

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Graduate research assistantNOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Tropospheric Chemistry, VOC groupThesis: New insights into fossil fuel VOC emissions and chemistry using H3O+ and NO+ chemical ionization mass spectrometryDefense: April 2017Analytical expertise:Chemical ionization mass spectrometry: PTR-MS, time-of-flight PTR-MS (PTR-ToF), NO+ CIMSGas chromatography: GC-CIMS, GC-EI-MS, GC-FIDFieldwork: 2016 FIREX lab measurement (MT): Operated PTR-ToF, NO+ CIMS, and experimental GC-CIMS instruments to characterize volatile organic compounds emitted from biomass burning 2016 Mobile lab measurements (CO): Operated PTR-ToF and NO+ CIMS instrument to measure highway vehicle VOC emissions and VOC emissions from oil & gas infrastructure2015 SONGNEX aircraft campaign (USA): operated PTR-ToF instrument to measure VOC emissions from oil and natural gas fields2014 VBEAM ground campaign (CO): operated PTR-MS instrument to study VOCs emitted by a high-altitude pine forest; modified a GC-FID instrument to analyze whole air samplesLabwork: Development of aircraft H3O+ time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF)Development of NO+ chemical ionization mass spectrometer

NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Tropospheric Chemistry, VOC groupAnalytical expertise:Chemical ionization mass spectrometry: PTR-MS, Acetate CIMSGas chromatography: GC-FID, GC-EI-MSField work:2013 SOAS ground campaign (AL): operated GC-MS instrument to investigate biogenic emissions and particle formation in a southeastern deciduous forest2012 UBWOS ground campaign (UT): operated GC-FID instrument to investigate air quality issues in an oil and gas extraction fieldLab work:Constructed whole-air sampling canister cleaning & QC systemRepaired & improved acetate chemical ionization mass spectrometer

Cambridge, Ma

Research assistant, Kroll labMeasured incorporation of tetraethyl lead (leaded gasoline additive) into secondary organic aerosol using laboratory chamberAnalytical techniques: Aerosol mass spectrometer, Scanning mobility particle sizer

Department Of Earth, Atmospheric, And Planetary Sciences

Research assistant in Perron Group: Geomorphology: understanding the ways that land surfaces are shaped and change, using techniques in applied mathematics, geology, civil engineering, and fluid dynamics.Supervised experiments in the MIT flume (wave tank) facilityBuilt database of hydraulic parameters for megafloods on Earth and MarsAssisted with a turbidity current modeling experiment

Earth Systems Research Laboratory, Boulder, Co

NOAA fellowshipNOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Tropospheric Chemistry, VOC groupAnalytical expertise: ion trap PTR-MSInvestigated organic compound evaporation from the surface of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spillUsed proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometery to analyze crude oil sampleDeveloped model of organic compound evaporation coupled to Gulf surface current trajectoriesPresented to senior scientists in the Chemical Sciences Division, to a panel of scientists at NOAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco.

Houston, Tx

Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Center, via Lunar and Planetary Institute.Investigated thermal decomposition products of CaCO3 and MgSO4 and reactionsUsed differential scanning calorimetery coupled to an electron ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction analysis Project helped with interpretation of data from Mars Phoenix 2008 spacecraft.

La Jolla, Ca

Improved time efficiency and reduced measurement error in a seawater alkalinity measurement system

Phd, Chemistry

Thesis: New insights into fossil fuel VOC emissions and chemistry using H3O+ and NO+ chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Bachelor Of Science, Chemistry; Earth, Atmospheric, And Planetary Sciences

Activities and Societies: Symphony Orchestra Wind Ensemble UROP: Undergraduate Student Research Program