If you are interested in joining the lab for Fall 2025, please try to contact me by Friday, September 5 (the earlier the better).
The following are examples of past and potential undergraduate Independent Study Projects (CHEG 4989) with Professor Wagstrom. If you have specific other projects that fall within the scope of the lab that you are interested in, those will also be considered. While prior experience is always helpful, you do not need to have any specific prior experience for these projects, just a desire to work hard and a willingness to learn. The projects below are just examples from the lab, not guaranteed current projects.
If you are interested in joining the group, please complete the sign-up form. After you complete the application, email me to let me know so that I can check for it.
DATA ANALYSIS / COMPUTATIONAL PROJECTS
Estimating the societal cost and environmental justice impacts of emissions from specific sources: This project will quantify the societal cost associated with emissions from different kinds of activities such as home heating, airports, seaports, and agriculture. There are lots of options within this group of projects that can be done independently or in pairs. These projects are targeted towards creating a scientific publication of these results. This kind of project offers a lot of flexibility for students who have difficult schedules. Skills you will learn: management of large data sets, programming, scientific writing.
Evaluating the impact of do-it-yourself air purifiers in real-world K-12 classrooms: We have collected data in schools that are using DIY air purifiers. I am looking for a team of motivated students who want to help with the data analysis and preparation of a manuscript with this data. This project will analysis preexisting data and provides a lot of flexibility in timing and location for students who need additional flexibility. Skills you will learn: management of large data sets, programming, scientific writing.
HANDS ON / LABORATORY / MONITORING PROJECTS
Portable air pollution monitoring to provide better estimates of air pollution exposure: Mobile monitoring is a common way to collect air pollution data over different areas. In this project, we will use a portable monitor and walking to collect this data. Skills you will learn: proper monitor handling, experimental design, data management, and data analysis. (Community-engaged project)
Developing an air monitoring drone: In atmospheric chemistry, we often use expensive flight studies to collect data on how pollutant concentrations vary in space and time. Taking advantage of low-cost, low-weight air monitoring options, this project uses a small air monitoring device attached to a quadcopter to create an air pollution drone. Skills you will learn: programming, data management, experimental design.
Improving indoor air quality in schools to mitigate COVID-19 transmission: This project will work with people from across the university to test different designs of a DIY air filtration system. This information is essential as schools are deploying these to mitigate indoor air quality concerns. Skills you will learn: programming, experimental design, data management, scientific writing.
Evaluating the use of K-12 lesson plans to build DIY air purifiers: We will be working with schools throughout Connecticut as they build and deploy DIY air purifiers in their classrooms. We have developed lesson plans and will be working with faculty in science education to determine ways to improve these lesson plans. Skill you will learn: engineering pedagogy, quantitative and qualitative research methods, survey design, focus group management, scientific writing. (Community-engaged project)
Evaluating the effectiveness of DIY air purifiers in real-world classroom: We plan to collect additional air monitoring data in classrooms as they deploy DIY air purifiers. These students will help with the data collection and data analysis. Skills you will learn: programming, data collection, data management, scientific writing. (Community-engaged project)
Monitoring air pollution in Hartford: Regulatory monitors, like those maintained by EPA and CT DEEP, provide detailed, reliable measurements of air pollutant levels at several locations throughout the state. Unfortunately, while the monitors tell a lot about regional air pollution, air pollution levels can actually vary on much finer scales than these monitors can provide information about. We are deploying a large number of monitors throughout Hartford to provide a better understanding of localized air pollution problems. Skills you will learn: programming, data management, science communication. (Community-engaged project)
Air Pollution Game: We are developing a game that we can play with community members to help “find” sources of air pollution that are not currently accounted for evaluations of different neighborhoods. Skills you will learn: game design, working with communities, social science research methods. (Community-engaged project)