Christopher Lee

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Boulder, Colorado, United States

About

Expert in analytical chemistry, ultraviolet-visible optical remote sensing, and mass spectrometry. Experienced developer in IGOR Pro, Python, and LabVIEW.

Experience

  • Air Quality Scientist (Physical Science Researcher / Scientist II) at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
    Jul 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Established a statewide air toxics monitoring network of cavity ringdown optical spectroscopy instruments. Developed, maintained, & operated two mobile laboratory platforms, each equipped with a Proton-Transfer-Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS), a Chemical Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (CI-ToF-MS), a cavity ringdown spectroscopy instrument, and a meteorological station. Developed software in IGOR Pro to analyze air toxics data from stationary and mobile platforms. Prepared public air toxics monitoring reports detailing measurements utilizing optical spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Publicly presented air toxics monitoring data.

  • University of Colorado Boulder (6 yrs 2 mos)
    • Graduate Researcher
      Aug 2018 - Jul 2024 · 6 yrs

      Designed, built, installed, and operated ultraviolet-visible Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) remote sensing instruments at four long-term measurement sites: (1) Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii; (2) Maido Observatory, Reunion Island; (3) Storm Peak Laboratory, Steamboat Springs, CO; (4) Utah State Correctional Facility, Salt Lake City, UT. Installed and operated an airborne MAX-DOAS instrument on three different research aircraft (University of Wyoming King Air, NOAA Twin Otter, NSF Gulfstream V) for multi-week scientific field campaigns. Developed software in IGOR Pro to analyze spectral remote sensing data, interface with a 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer model, and ingest global chemical transport model output (GEOS-Chem, WACCM, ECMWF CAMS). Developed LabVIEW software to test and control scientific instrument hardware for ultraviolet-visible & infrared optical remote sensing. Presented scientific results at domestic (AGU, AMS) and international conferences & workshops (Italy, Belgium). Authored or co-authored twelve peer-reviewed publications, including high-impact papers in Nature Chemistry & Nature Geoscience. Mentored four junior colleagues to operate spectroscopic remote sensing instruments and analyze remote sensing data.

    • Teaching Assistant (Analytical Spectroscopy)
      Jan 2020 - May 2020 · 5 mos

    • Teaching Assistant (Instrumental Analysis)
      Aug 2019 - Dec 2019 · 5 mos

  • Undergraduate Research Assistant at Saltzmann/Aydin Research Group
    Sep 2015 - Jun 2018 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Used vacuum apparatus, cryogenic systems, and a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) to quantify trace gas concentrations inside firn air flask samples and ice core air bubbles from Greenland and Antarctica. Developed code in Python to analyze & visualize GC-MS data. Wrote an undergraduate thesis providing evidence for the in-situ production of methyl chloride, methyl bromide, and carbon disulfide in glaciers and the resulting bias in the paleoclimatological record.

  • Summer Intern at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    Jun 2017 - Aug 2017 · 3 mos

    Developed and tested a miniaturized gas chromatograph and quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer for deployment onboard the International Space Station and Orion manned missions. Constructed vacuum apparatus and performed leak testing on the gas chromatograph chassis.

  • Summer Intern at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    Jun 2016 - Sep 2016 · 4 mos

    Developed and tested a miniaturized gas chromatograph and quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer for deployment onboard the International Space Station and Orion manned missions. Constructed vacuum apparatus and performed leak testing on the gas chromatograph chassis.