Chemistry and Biochemistry

Daniel Curtis

Daniel Curtis
Associate Professor
Email:
Phone:
(818) 677-2479
Office location:
Citrus Hall 3313

Biography

EDUCATION

B.S., Emory University, 1997
Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004

POSTDOCTORAL APPOINTMENT

University of Iowa, 2005-2007
University of California, Los Angeles, 2007-2008

COURSES TAUGHT

Chemistry 100, Principles of Chemistry
Chemistry 101, General Chemistry I
Chemistry 102, General Chemistry II
Chemistry 321, Chemical Analysis I
Chemistry 321L, Chemical Analysis I Laboratory
Chemistry 422L, Chemical Analysis II Laboratory
Chemistry 522, Advanced Analytical Chemistry
Chemistry 541, Environmental Chemistry I
Chemistry 541L, Environmental Chemistry I Laboratory
Science 100, Science for Life

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Analytical and Environmental Chemistry
Dr. Curtis’ research interests include the spectroscopic properties of atmospheric aerosol particles. Particles in the atmosphere affect visibility, global climate, and human health, yet their optical properties and effects on Earth’s radiation budget are poorly understood.
The Curtis lab currently performs laboratory and field measurements of the absorbance and scattering of light by naturally occurring aerosol particles and their interaction with pollution gases to determine their effect on global climate and visibility. In addition, the optical properties of the particles are needed to interpret remote sensing data of particles from space and ground-based measurements.
Spectroscopic techniques used in the Curtis lab include cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS), UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, UV/Vis transmission spectroscopy, and laser spectroscopy of angular scattering from particles.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

  1. "Size and mass distributions of ground-level sub-micrometer biomass burning aerosol from small wildfires", Okoshi, R.; Rasheed, A.; Chen Reddy, G.; McCrowey, C.J.; Curtis, D.B. Atmospheric Environment (2014) 89, 392. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.01.024. 
  2. "A latched comparator circuit for triggering continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy", Rasheed, A; Curtis, D.B. Review of Scientific Instruments (2013) 84, 066109, DOI: 10.1063/1.4811846. 
  3. "A Portable High-Resolution Polar Nephelometer for Measurement of the Angular Scattering Properties of Atmospheric Aerosol: Design and Validation", McCrowey, C.; Tinilau, S.; Calderon, G.; Koo, J.-E.; Curtis, D.B. Aerosol Science and Technology (2013) 47, 592-605, DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2013.775400. 
  4. "Probing the Source of Hydrogen Peroxide Associated with Coarse Mode Aerosol Particles in Southern California", Wang, Y.; Arellanes, C.; Curtis, D.B.; Paulson, S.E. Environmental Science & Technology (2010) 44(11), 4070-4075, DOI: 10.1021/es100593k. 
  5. "A laboratory investigation of light scattering from representative components of mineral dust aerosol at a wavelength of 550 nm", Curtis, D. B.; Meland, B.; Aycibin, M.; Arnold, N. P.; Grassian, V. H.; Young, M. A.; Kleiber, P. D. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres) (2008) 113, D08210, doi:10.1029/2007JD009387. 
  6. "Laboratory studies of methane and ethane adsorption and nucleation onto organic particles: Application to Titan's clouds", Curtis, D. B.; Hatch, C. D.; Hasenkopf, C. A.; Toon, O. B.; Tolbert, M. A.; McKay, C. P.; Khare, B. N. Icarus (2008) 195, 792-801. 
  7. "Simultaneous measurement of light-scattering properties and particle size distribution for aerosols: Application to ammonium sulfate and quartz aerosol particles," Curtis, D. B.; Aycibin, M.; Young, M. A.; Grassian, V.H.; Kleiber, P. D. Atmospheric Environment (2007) 41, 4748-4758. 
  8. "Laboratory studies of butane nucleation on organic haze particles: Application to Titan’s clouds," Curtis, D. B., Glandorf, D. L., Toon, O. B., Tolbert, M. A., McKay, C. P., Khare, B. N. Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2005) 109(7), 1382-1390. 
  9. "Measurement of the temperature-dependent optical constants of water ice in the 15-200 um range," Curtis, D. B., Rajaram, B., Toon, O. B., Tolbert, M. A. Applied Optics (2005) 44(19), 4102-4118. 
  10. "Temperature-dependent optical constants of water ice in the near infrared: New results and critical review of the available measurements," Rajaram, B., Glandorf, D. L., Curtis, D. B., Tolbert, M. A., Toon, O. B., Ockman, N. Applied Optics (2001) 40(25), 4449-4462.

M. S. THESES

"A new portable polar nephelometer with angularly resolved light intensity detection for the determination of Mie scattering of aerosol particles", Clinton J. McCrowey (MS Chemistry 2013).
"Laboratory studies of the changes in the scattering properties of aged sea-salt aerosol particles with changes in composition and their effect on climate", Soseala S. Tinilau (MS Chemistry 2013).
"Laboratory studies of phase transition changes of atmospherically relevant salts by UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy", Greeshma Chen Reddy (MS Chemistry 2011).
"Laboratory studies of the optical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles using cavity-enhanced aerosol extinction spectroscopy (CE-AES)", Abdur Rasheed (MS Chemistry 2010).