Coty Jen
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Coty Jen is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and a member of the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on understanding how the chemical composition and physical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles influence air quality and climate. Specifically, her goal is to disentangle the chemical complexity of the atmosphere by measuring and then developing semi-empirical models to describe the numerous compounds and their reactions that help form and grow atmospheric particles. These models will help predict how human activities will alter air quality over the next few decades. In addition, Jen’s group specializes in developing novel aerosol measurement techniques to measure the physical characteristics and molecular make-up of atmospheric particles from several molecules to 2.5 µm in diameter produced from wildfires to complex atmospheric reactions.
Jen obtained her B.S. in chemical engineering at Columbia University in 2010, M.S. in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 2013, Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 2015, and postdoc in environmental science, policy, and management at University of California, Berkeley in 2018. She received the NSF GRFP, NSF AGS Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the American Association of Aerosol Research Friedlander Award. Jen’s research is currently funded by NSF AGS Atmospheric Chemistry and DOE Atmospheric System Research.
Understanding the Complexities of the Atmosphere
Faculty Insights
Education
2015 Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
2013 MS, Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
2010 BS, Chemical Engineering, Columbia University
Research Interests
Media mentions
Chemical Engineering
Teachers turned researchers
Two local high school teachers spent a month as researchers in the Jen Lab, part of a pilot program to help increase atmospheric chemistry and climate change literacy.
CMU Engineering
Quantifying that pond smell
Researchers are partnering with the PA Department of Environmental Protection to determine if emissions from harmful algal blooms could be unsafe to breathe.
WPXI Channel 11 News
Jen discusses poor air quality’s impact on health on WPXI Channel 11 News
ChemE’s Coty Jen discusses the poor air quality resulting from the Canadian wildfires and how prolonged exposure can have a serious impact on people’s health on WPXI Channel 11 News.
Chemical Engineering
Undergraduate researches health impacts of wildfire smoke
Chemical Engineering sophomore Jing Lin researches how smoke particles released into the atmosphere by wildfires affect our respiratory and immune systems.
Chemical Engineering
Faculty earn DOE Awards for Atmospheric Research
Carnegie Mellon University’s Coty Jen and Hamish Gordon have earned Department of Energy (DOE) awards for their work in atmospheric research.
Chemical Engineering
CMU’s Dominic Casalnuovo earns NSF Graduate Fellowship
First-year Chemical Engineering Ph.D. student, Dominic Casalnuovo, has earned a fellowship in the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). His research focuses on developing new techniques for measuring trace gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere.
Salon
Jen and Sullivan quoted on wildfires
ChemE’s Coty Jen and MechE’s Ryan Sullivan were quoted in Salon about their experiences with wildfires in California.
Shared Air Podcast
Jen and Sullivan quoted on coronavirus
ChemE’s Coty Jen and MechE’s Ryan Sullivan appeared on MechE’s Albert Presto’s podcast, Shared Air, on the role of masks in the coronavirus pandemic.
CMU Engineering
Engineering ways to keep doctors safe from COVID-19
When Allegheny Health Network and Magee Plastics needed help perfecting their simple intubation boxes, they turned to Carnegie Mellon engineers Ryan Sullivan and Coty Jen.
CMU Engineering
Prescribed burns may introduce new atmospheric toxins
Prescribed burns are an effective method for managing forests and controlling wildfires. But burning such a large amount of built-up fuel can significantly impact regional air quality.