People

Prof. Naomi Zimmerman


Professor Naomi Zimmerman

Principal Investigator (CV)
Canada Research Chair in Real-World Air Quality Sensing
Faculty Profile

🏢 CEME 2066
☎ (604) 822-9433
✉ nzimmerman@mech.ubc.ca


Google Scholar

Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates

Dr. Anand Kumar

RAIN Research and Operations Manager
Postdoc., The University of British Columbia (2022)
Ph.D., ETH Zurich (2018)
M.Tech., IIT Kanpur, India (2014)

✉ anand.kumar@ubc.ca

Learn more about Anand [+]
Bio: Anand is the Research and Operations Manager for the Rapid Air Improvement Network (RAIN) project which aims to integrate spatially-dense sensor networks, mobile monitoring and sophisticated instrumentation to map and characterize air pollutants with the detail needed to support effective interventions on short and long term timescales. Anand has a background in particulate matter measurement & instrumentation as well as aspects of heterogeneous ice nucleation in the atmosphere. His master’s research work was focussed on designing, developing and performing field evaluation of a multiple slit nozzle-based high volume PM2.5 inertial impactor assembly. An Indian patent was filed for the assembly design and is in final stage of approval. His Ph.D research focussed on heterogeneous ice nucleation on mineral dust and the impact of atmospherically relevant chemical species on the ice nucleation abilities of various mineral dusts. He further explored this topic in his postdoc by using Molecular Dynamics Simulation technique to elucidate physical behavior of mineral-solute-water systems at low temperatures on short time and length scales that are not directly accessible experimentally. In his free time, Anand enjoys cooking, baking, dancing and exploring restaurants and craft breweries.

Graduate Students

Jasmine Sharifi

Ph.D. Candidate
B.Sc. Shahid Beheshti University (2019)
M.Sc. Shahid Beheshti University (2022)

✉ yasamin.sharifi@ubc.ca

Learn more about Jasmine [+]
Bio: Jasmine Sharifi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UBC Vancouver. She has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Shahid Beheshti University and recently completed her master’s degree in energy systems engineering from the same University in Iran. Under the joint supervision of Dr. Amanda Giang and Dr. Naomi Zimmerman, she aims to contribute to sustainable urban planning and transportation policies. Jasmine’s research focuses on urban freight emissions mitigation and policy implications in Metro Vancouver, specifically marine, rail, and heavy-duty trucks. With a passion for interdisciplinary work, Jasmine strives to address the complex relationship between energy systems, environmental impact, and policymaking.

Mina Jamshidi Kalajahi

Ph.D. Candidate
M.Sc. University of Tabriz (2017)
B.Sc. University of Tabriz (2015)

✉ mina.jamshidikalajahi@ubc.ca

Learn more about Mina [+]
Bio: Mina is pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Naomi Zimmerman. Her research focuses on air pollutant emissions from vehicles in Vancouver. Through her work, she aims to survey the future of transportation in Vancouver by integrating agent-based traffic models with prevalent emission models. Prior to her Ph.D. study, she earned her master’s degree in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tabriz, Iran. Furthermore, she has actively engaged in research projects related to air pollution emission and dispersion studies, emission inventory development, and pollution reduction strategies.

Yuetong Zhang

Ph.D. Student
B.S. Beijing University of Technology, China (2019)
M.S. University of Southern California, USA (2021)
M.S. University of Florida, USA (2023)

✉ zyuetong@student.ubc.ca

Learn more about Yuetong [+]
Bio: Yuetong Zhang is a PhD student in Dr. Naomi’s iREACH lab. She received her degrees in Material Science and Engineering from the Beijing University of Technology (China, Bachelors), and in Environmental Engineering from the University of Southern California (US, Masters) and the University of Florida (US, Masters). The primary focus of her research has been on investigating the health effects of airborne particles through the utilization of air-liquid interface exposure systems and animal models. Over the course of the past years, she actively participated in field sampling activities pertaining to SARS-CoV-2. She is also interested in doing field measurement to study the fate of particulate matters in transportation sector.

Caroline Webber

Ph.D. Candidate
B.S. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2023)
Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS)

✉ caroline.webber@ubc.ca

Learn more about Caroline [+]
Bio: Caroline is a PhD student in the Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) department at UBC Vancouver, studying under Dr. Naomi Zimmerman. Caroline graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science in environmental science. As an undergraduate, she conducted an honors thesis under a professor in UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, studying the interannual variability of ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) and its potential contributions to marine secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Conducting this research through the lens of public health has highly motivated her interest in atmospheric chemistry, air pollution, and environmental policy. Outside of academics, Caroline enjoys playing piano, knitting, hiking, and swimming.

Hugo Dignoes Ricart

Ph.D. Student
MEng Chemical Engineering, UBC (2024)
BASc Chemical Engineering, UBC (2021)

✉ hdignoes@mail.ubc.ca

Learn more about Hugo [+]
Bio: Hugo is a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, and a member of Dr. Naomi Zimmerman’s iREACH Lab. His research uses low-cost, multi-pollutant air quality sensors to support decision-making and public engagement with local air quality. This work spans everything from algorithm development for sensor calibration, to data quality and interpretation, to collaboration with regional health authorities to launch community-oriented data dissemination platforms. Before joining iREACH, Hugo was part of UBC’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering catalysis lab led by Dr. Chester Upham, where he worked on catalyst development. He later interned with Dr. Amanda Giang’s LEAP Lab (UBC IRES & Mechanical Engineering), where he worked on transportation and environmental policy research.

Henna Lintusaari

Visiting Ph.D. Student
M.Sc. Engineering Physics, Tampere University
Aerosol Physics Laboratory, Finland

✉ henna.lintusaari@tuni.fi

Learn more about Henna [+]
Bio: Henna Lintusaari (MSc in Engineering Physics) is pursuing PhD studies in Aerosol Physics Laboratory at Tampere University, Finland. She joined the Aerosol Emissions and Air Quality group, led by Topi Rönkkö, as an undergraduate student in 2015. In her dissertation, she investigates ultrafine aerosol particles in urban environments, with a particular focus on the unregulated fraction smaller than 23 nm in diameter. From October 2025 to March 2026, she is a Visiting International Research Student at the UBC in Professor Zimmerman’s iREACH lab.

 

Alumni