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+ SG Home > Earth Science Division > Atmospheric Science Branch Staff > Laura Iraci
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Laura Iraci

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Laura Iraci

MS: 245-5
650-604-0129
Laura.T.Iraci@nasa.gov
Education: Ph.D., Analytical and Atmospheric Chemistry, 1997
University of Colorado at Boulder

Thesis: "Infrared Studies of Sulfuric Acid and its Impact on Polar and Global Ozone"
  A.B., Chemistry, 1992
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

Summa cum Laude, High Honors in Chemistry

Professional Experience:  
2005-2006 NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Special Assistant to Ames Center Director

2000-Present: Research Scientist, Atmospheric Science Branch
1998-2000 SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
Staff Scientist
1997-1998 National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO
Postdoctoral Fellow

Scholarships and Awards:  
 
  • Special Achievement Award from Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Branch for sustained scientific achievements, collaborations and contributions. August 2003. Performance Award. December 2002.
 
  • National Center for Atmospheric Research Advanced Study Program Postdoctoral Fellowship, November 1997-September 1998.
 
  • NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program/Earth System Science Fellowship. September 1994-November 1997.
 
  • Selected participant for German-American Academic Council workshop: Volatile Organic Compounds in the Troposphere, October 1997.

Publications:
Michelsen, R. R., S. J. R. Staton, and L. T. Iraci. 2006. Uptake and Dissolution of Gaseous Ethanol in Sulfuric Acid. J. Phys. Chem. A., DOI: 10.1021/jp056234s, web release date April 5.
Iraci, L. T., R. R. Michelsen, S. F. M. Ashbourn, T. A. Rammer, and D. M. Golden. 2005. Uptake of hypobromous acid (HOBr) by aqueous sulfuric acid solutions: Low-temperature solubility and reaction. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5: 1577–1587.
Michelsen, R. R., S. F. M. Ashbourn, and L. T. Iraci. 2004. Dissolution, Speciation and Reaction of Acetaldehyde in Cold Sulfuric Acid. J. Geophys. Res., 109, D23205, doi:10.1029/2004JD005041.
Tabazadeh, A., R. J. Yokelson, H. B. Singh, P. V. Hobbs, J. H. Crawford, and L. T. Iraci. 2004. Heterogeneous chemistry involving methanol in tropospheric clouds. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L06114, doi: 10.1029/2003GL018775.
Fortin, T. J., K. Drdla, L. T. Iraci, and M. A. Tolbert. 2003. Ice condensation on sulfuric acid tetrahydrate: Implications for polar stratospheric ice clouds. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 3: 987-997.
Iraci, L. T., A. M. Essin, and D. M. Golden. 2002. Solubility of Methanol in Low-Temperature Aqueous Sulfuric Acid and Implications for Atmospheric Particle Composition. J. Phys. Chem. A, 106: 4054-4060.
Orlando, J. J., L. T. Iraci, and G. S. Tyndall. 2000. The Chemistry of the Cyclopentoxy and Cyclohexoxy Radicals at Sub-ambient Temperatures. J. Phys. Chem. A, 104: 5072.
Iraci, L. T., B. M. Baker, G. S. Tyndall, J. J. Orlando. 1999. Measurements of the Henry's Law Coefficients of 2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol, Methacrolein, and Methylvinyl Ketone. J. Atmos. Chem., 33: 321-330.
Tisdale, R. T., A. J. Prenni, L. T. Iraci, M. A. Tolbert, O. B. Toon. 1999. Variation of the Infrared Spectra of Nitric Acid Hydrates on Thin Sulfuric Acid Films. Geophys. Res. Lett., 26: 707-710.
Iraci, L. T., T. J. Fortin, and M. A. Tolbert. 1998. Dissolution of Sulfuric Acid Tetrahydrate at Low Temperatures and Subsequent Growth of Nitric Acid Trihydrate. J. Geophys. Res., 103: 8491-8498.
Iraci, L. T., and M. A. Tolbert. 1997. Heterogeneous Interaction of Formaldehyde with Cold Sulfuric Acid: Implications for the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere. J. Geophys. Res., 102: 16,099-16,107.
Iraci, L. T., A. M. Middlebrook, and M. A Tolbert. 1995. Laboratory Studies of the Formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds: Nitric Acid Condensation on Thin Sulfuric Acid Films. J. Geophys. Res., 100: 20,969-20,977.
Iraci, L. T., A. M. Middlebrook, M. A. Wilson, and M. A. Tolbert. 1994. Growth of Nitric Acid Hydrates on Thin Sulfuric Acid Films. Geophys. Res. Lett., 21: 867-870.
Middlebrook, A. M., L. T. Iraci, L. S. McNeill, B. G. Koehler, O. W. Saastad, M. A. Tolbert, and D. R. Hanson. 1993. FTIR Studies of Thin H2SO4/H2O Films: Formation, Water Uptake, and Solid-Liquid Phase Changes. J. Geophys. Res., 98: 20,473-20,481.

Invited Scientific Seminars:
"Organic Reactions in Aqueous, Acidic Atmospheric Aerosols," Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, April 2006.
"Temperature and Composition Dependence of Organic Reactions in Aqueous, Acidic Atmospheric Aerosols," part of special symposium on "Emerging Issues in Atmospheric Science: A Physical Chemistry Perspective," 231st American Chemical Society National Meeting, March 2006.
"Uptake of Organic Gases by Upper Tropospheric and Lower Stratospheric Particles,"1st Symposium for the Earth Systems Scholars Network, September 2004.
"Atmospheric Particles Do It All: Chemistry, Physics, and More!" NASA Faculty Fellows Program Seminar, July 2004.
"Atmospheric Particles: Tiny Chemical Reactors," Chemistry Department Seminar, San Francisco State University, November 2003.
"Chemistry of Particles in the Earth's Atmosphere," NASA Undergraduate Student Researcher Program summer seminar series, July 2003.
"Chemistry Over Your Head: Reactions on Particles in the Atmosphere," NASA Faculty Fellows Program Summer Retreat, June 2003.
Tutorial on Atmospheric Aerosols at Annual Conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research, October 2002.

Invited Public and K-12 Lectures:
"Atmospheric Particles, Organic Chemistry, Cloud Growth, and Global Warming!" Presentation for NASA Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program, July 2005.
"Playing in Thin Air: Learning about the Earth's Atmosphere." Presentation for junior high school girls at Sally Ride Science Camp, October 2003.
"Atmospheric Particles: Tiny Chemical Reactors." Public lecture for National Chemistry Week event hosted by Santa Clara Valley Section of the American Chemical Society. October, 2003.
"Changes in Our Atmosphere: Challenges and Choices," presented to students and parents at Ursuline H.S. in Santa Rosa, CA. March 27, 2003.
"New Frontiers in Atmospheric Chemistry." presented to 11th grade students at Ursuline H.S. in Santa Rosa, CA. March 27, 2003.

Other Presentations:
"Cross-Reactions of Organic Trace Compounds in Cold, Acidic Sulfate Particles." Oral presentation (A24B-06) by R. R. Michelsen at American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. December 2005.
"Uptake of CH3COOH and CF3COOH in Upper Tropospheric Sulfate Particles: Effect of Fluorination on the Accommodation of Oxygenated Organic Vapors." Poster presented (A21A-0835) at American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. December 2005.
"Reactions of Oxygenated VOCs in UT/LS Aerosols: Laboratory Studies." Poster presented at Annual Conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research. October 2005.
"Uptake and Reaction of Aldehydes in Low-Temperature Sulfuric Acid." Poster presented at Gordon Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry. September 2005.
"Examination of Organic Reactions in UT/LS Aerosols: Temperature Dependence in Sulfuric Acid Solution." Poster presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. December 2004.
"Uptake of Organic Gases by Upper Tropospheric and Lower Stratospheric Particles." Poster presented at 1st Symposium for the Earth Systems Scholars Network. September 2004.
"The Acid Catalyzed Nitration of Methanol: Formation of Methyl Nitrate via Aerosol Chemistry." Poster presented at the American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting. May 2004.
"Environmental Partitioning and Reactivity of Polybrominated Diphenylethers." Poster presented at the American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting. May 2004.
"Furthering our Understanding of the Chemical Composition of Upper Tropospheric and Lower Stratospheric Aerosols," Oral presentation at the SOFIA Upper Deck Research Facility Workshop, June 2004.

Mentoring and Teaching:  
Postdoctoral Researchers: Dr. Rebecca Michelsen, August 2002-August 2005;
and two others
Graduate Student Advisee: Mr. Mads Andersen, Univ. of Copenhagen, March 2005-present.
Supervisor: Prof. O. J. Nielsen.
Research Assistants: Ms. Rosi Reed, San Jose State University, May–August 2006
Mr. Brent Riffel, Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, September 2003-August 2004.
Undergraduate Student Interns and Advisees: Ms. Sarah Staton, William Jewell College, Summers 2003 and 2004. Now at Arizona State University. Also advised six others.


Current Collaborators:  
  Hans Jurg Jost, Jimena Lopez, NASA ARC (SGG) and BAERI
  • satellite studies of biomass burning lofted to the stratosphere
  Anthony Colaprete, NASA Ames Research Center (Code SST)
  • water ice cloud formation on Mars
  Max Bernstein and the ARC-SSA Astrochemistry Group (Lou Allamandola, Doug Hudgins, etc.)
  • Mars ice cloud nucleation studies

Professional Activities:  
  Manuscripts: Chemical Reviews, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal of Geophysical Research, Geophysical Research Letters, Atmospheric Environment, Environmental Science and Technology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

Proposals: NSF: Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Division of Chemistry; NASA: Upper Atmosphere Research Program, Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project, Sun-Earth Connection, Radiation Sciences Program, Tropospheric Chemistry Program; Petroleum Research Fund
Supporting Roles:
  • Seminar Organizer, Ames–Google Joint Seminar Series, January 2006–present.

  • Session Chair, American Chemical Society Meeting, March 2006.
Workshops and Committees:
  • Invited participant for Mass Accommodation Workshop, sponsored by NASA, Boston College, and Aerodyne Research, February 2002.


  • Invited Participant and Rapporteur for NASA Workshop on Laboratory Spectroscopic Needs for Remote Sensing, October, 2001.


  • Invited participant for NASA Workshop on Laboratory Studies of Upper Troposphere/Lower Stratosphere Processes, July 2001.


  • Reactivity Research Working Group: participated in development of science assessment and research goals to provide an improved scientific basis for reactivity-related regulatory policies for VOCs, sponsored by EPA and industry groups, Oct. 1998-Sept. 2000.


  • Invited participant for NASA Planning Workshop for Integration of Satellite Calibration/Validation and Research-Oriented Field Missions, August 1999.


  • Selected participant for German-American Academic Council workshop: Volatile Organic Compounds in the Troposphere, October 1997.
Memberships: American Geophysical Union

American Chemical Society
Community Involvement:
  • Climate Science Day, invited participant. Educated state lawmakers and their staffers about global climate change and the expected effects in California. Sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists, April 27, 2005; May 15-16, 2006.


  • Participated in Career Series with Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County, May 2003.


  • Judge, Latino College Preparatory Academy Science Fair, March 2005.


  • Judge, Synopsys Science and Technology Championship, March 2002 and March 2004


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