Student Spotlight: Ariana Gray Bé
By Irena Garic
Where are you from, and where did you go to school as an undergraduate?
I’m from Cleveland, Ohio (the 216!). I did my undergraduate studies at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where I obtained a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in vocal music performance.
How did you become interested in your research?
I study the surface chemistry of aerosol particles that are produced when volatile terpenes undergo oxidation in the atmosphere. I became interested in this project because it offered a unique opportunity to dive into organic synthesis, surface spectroscopy, and atmospheric science to address interdisciplinary problems that can’t be tackled by each field alone. The prospect of having autonomy in both the making and measuring aspects of my research was also very exciting to me.
Tell us about your involvement in the graduate student organizations?
It is incredibly important to me that we continue to work to cultivate and maintain a supportive and inclusive community in the Dept. of Chemistry. I served as co-social chair for PLU last year and am currently a board member of NU BonD (2 years) and co-VP of WISER (3 years). NU BonD’s mission is to celebrate and promote inclusivity of diverse thoughts, perspectives, and backgrounds within the Department. In WISER, we aim to build community and advance professional development among graduate women across all STEM fields at NU.
How would you explain what you study to non-scientists?
I study tiny specks and droplets situated in the sky above us, named atmospheric aerosol particles. These particles are invisible to the naked eye, yet they collectively impact the climate by directly interacting with the sun’s rays and through their ability to form clouds. Aerosol–cloud interactions in the atmosphere continue to puzzle scientists, hindering predictions of the scope and impacts of climate change. My research focuses on an abundant class of aerosol particles formed in nature from organic molecules (chemical substances whose atomic building block is the element carbon) that are made by trees and other plants. These molecules are called terpenes and contribute to the smell of pine, orange, lavender, cloves, and hops, to name a few. Many of these terpenes easily vaporize, which allows them to escape from trees and rise into the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, the terpenes chemically react with ozone (familiar as a cause of urban smog or from the ozone “hole”) to generate aerosol particles. It is here, suspended up in the atmosphere, where aerosol particles serve as tiny “seeds” onto which water vapor can condense, forming the clusters of droplets we observe as clouds in the sky. I seek to study the molecules in the outermost layer (aka the surface) of an aerosol particle to understand how the structure, properties, and orientation of these surface species impact cloud formation processes in the climate system.
What are some potential applications for the work that you’re doing?
Aerosol–cloud interactions in the atmosphere contribute the largest uncertainty to estimates of climate change. If progress toward elucidating the science behind atmospheric aerosols is made, uncertainties in climate change predictions will be reduced, which in turn informs policymaking in energy, conservation, economic adaptation sectors.
What is the best part about being in the Geiger and Thomson Groups?
Both groups are full of supportive, inspiring, and fun people, and I am grateful that I get to work with them every day.
What are your favorite pastimes?
I used to sing and dance a lot growing up so I try to keep doing both on the side now! I am currently a singer in the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, and I go to hip hop and ballet classes when I can. I also like to do yoga, cook, watch cooking shows, and go to music concerts.