Renyi Zhang
University Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences
Harold J. Haynes Chair in Geosciences
Atmospheric chemistry and physics, chemical, environmental, climate, and public health sciences; environmental and climate policy; science communication
Research
Dr. Renyi Zhang’s research has covered a variety of areas in atmospheric, chemical, environmental, climate, and public health sciences, including (i) photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons emitted from anthropogenic and biogenic sources; (ii) nucleation, growth, and transformation of aerosols; (iii) development of state-of-the-art instrumentation to measure trace gases and aerosols in the atmosphere; (iv) development of regional and global models to represent aerosol and cloud processes and assess the aerosol-cloud-climate interactions; and (v) elucidation of the impacts of air pollution on human health. His latest work focuses on understanding the interactions between climate change, air quality, and public health as well as integration between science and policy for air quality improvement and climate protection.
Biography
Dr. Renyi Zhang’s scientific endeavors have advanced the understanding of four pressing global issues: (i) air pollution, (ii) climate change, (iii) stratospheric ozone layer depletion, and (iv) the COVID-19 pandemic. His team has developed state-of-the-art methodologies for atmospheric chemistry, weather, and climate research, including experimental techniques to elucidate gas-phase kinetics and aerosol chemistry, instruments to measure trace gases and aerosols in the atmosphere as well as regional and global models to represent aerosol and cloud processes and assess the aerosol-cloud-climate interactions. In the realm of air pollution, his investigations have provided critical insights into the fundamental formation mechanisms and impacts of fine aerosols or particulate matter (PM). His groundbreaking work includes first explaining the mysterious chemistry behind the historic 1952 London Fog and contemporary severe hazes in Asia, a critical contribution to air quality improvement worldwide. His research on aerosols and their radiative forcing has far-reaching implications for climate studies and has improved the assessment of black carbon (BC)'s role in global warming. His research has transformed the understanding of aerosol-cloud interactions, their effects on climate, and the global impacts of regional air pollution, all of which are essential for addressing climate change and accurate predicting weather extremes. In addition, his work has advanced the understanding of adverse health effects on early life development due to exposure to ultrafine particles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he published two important papers that provided the first pivotal evidence on the airborne transmission of the virus and the efficacy of masking in preventing inter-human transmission, with major implications for protecting the public. His earlier research on stratospheric chemistry contributed to understanding the mechanisms behind the Antarctic ozone hole formation. He is an elected Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Meteorological Society (AMS), and American Geophysical Union (AGU). He was honored by a named symposium at the 2016 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society and received the Humboldt Research Award in 2023.
Dr. Zhang has mentored an elite cadre of early career scientists, including 23 doctoral dissertations, 11 Master theses, 28 postdocs/research scientists, and 14 exchange graduate students. His doctoral students have broadly received employments in academia (e.g., a tenured associate professor at Purdue University, an assistant professor at Stanford University, an assistant professor at University of Connecticut, an endowed Professor at University of New Haven, an associate Lab Director at Florida International University, etc.), government (e.g., a deputy division director at DOE and research scientists at NOAA and NASA, etc.), and industry (e.g., environmental scientists at Intel Corporation, Samsung, Research Triangle International, Aerodyne Research, etc.). Numerous of his graduate students have achieved national/international recognitions, including AGU James B. Macelwane Medal, AGU James R. Holton Junior Scientist Awards (two), AMS Henry G. Houghton Award, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Mariolopoulos Trust Fund Award, International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS) Early Career Scientist Medal, AGU Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award, and AGU/AMS fellows. Several of his mentees have received early career recognitions, such as NIH Pathway to Independence Award and NSF Faculty Early CAREER award (two).
Dr. Zhang has played a leading role in establishing a Center for Atmospheric Chemistry and Environments (CACE) and an interdisciplinary research and education program on the impacts of air pollution on human health. His effort has led to several funded multi-disciplinary and multi-investigators research projects.
Selected Publications
(Symbols denote papers with the corresponding author by R. Zhang (*), highly cited paper - top 1% (#), and papers by R. Zhang’s graduate students(‡) and postdocs/research scientists (†). Citations from Web of Science)
(1)# Johnson, N.M., A. Rodrigues-Hoffmann, J. C. Behlen, C. Lau, D. Pendleton, N. Harvey, R. Shore, Y. Li‡, J. Chen, Y. Tian, and R. Zhang, Air pollution and children’s health—a review of adverse effects associated with prenatal exposure from fine to ultrafine particulate matter, Environ. Health Prev. Med. 26, 72 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-021-00995-5 (80 cites)
(2)# Zhang*, R., Y. Li‡, A.L. Zhang, Y. Wang, and M.J. Molina, Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 117, 14857-14863 (2020). https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2009637117 (787 cites)
(3)# Zhang, F., Y. Wang, J. Peng , L. Chen, Y. Sun, L. Duan, X. Ge, Y. Li‡, J. Zhao‡, C. Liu, X. Zhang, G. Zhang, Y. Pan, Y. Wang, A.L. Zhang, Y. Ji, G. Wang, M. Hu , M.J. Molina, and R. Zhang*, An unexpected catalyst dominates formation and radiative forcing of regional haze, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 117, 3960-3966 (2020). https://doi.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1919343117 (141 cites)
(4)# Guo†, S., M. Hu, J. Peng, Z. Wu, M.L. Zamora, D. Shang, Z. Du, J. Zheng, X. Fang, R. Tang , Y. Wu, L. Zeng, S. Shuai, W. Zhang, Y. Wang, Y. Ji, Y. Li‡, A.L. Zhang, W. Wang, F. Zhang, J. Zhao‡, X. Gong, C. Wang, M.J. Molina, and R. Zhang*, Remarkable nucleation and growth of ultrafine particles from vehicular exhaust, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 117, 3427–3432 (2020). https://doi.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1916366117 (129 cites)
(5)# An, Z., R.-J. Huang, R. Zhang, X. Tie, G. Li, J. Cao, W. Zhou, Z. Shi, Y. Han, Z. Gu, and Y. Ji†, Severe haze in Northern China: A synergy of anthropogenic emissions and atmospheric processes, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 116, 8657–8666 (2019). https://doi/10.1073/pnas.1900125116 (637 cites)
(6)# Lee, S.-H., H. Gordon, H. Yu, K. Lehtipalo, R. Haley, Y. Li‡, and R. Zhang, New Particle Formation in the Atmosphere: From Molecular Clusters to Global Climate, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 124, 7098-7146 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029356 (185 cites)
(7)# Wang†, G., R. Zhang*, M.E. Gomez‡, L. Yang†, M.L. Zamora‡, M. Hu, Y. Lin‡, J. Peng†, S. Guo‡, J. Meng, J. Li, C. Cheng, T. Hu, Y. Ren, Y. Wang, J. Gao, J. Cao, Z. An, W. Zhou, G. Li, J. Wang, P. Tian, W. Marrero-Ortiz‡, J. Secrest‡, Z. Du, J. Zheng†, D. Shang, L. Zeng, M. Shao, W. Wang, Y. Huang, Y. Wang‡, Y. Zhu‡, Y. Li‡, J. Hu‡, B. Pan‡, L. Cai, Y. Cheng, Y. Ji†, F. Zhang†, D. Rosenfeld, P.S. Liss, R.A. Duce, C.E. Kolb, M.J. Molina, Persistent sulfate formation from London Fog to Chinese Haze, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, 13630–13635 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1616540113 (1087 cites)
(8)# Peng†, J., M. Hu, S. Guo‡, Z. Du, J. Zheng, D. Shang, M.L. Zamora‡, L. Zeng, M. Shao, Y. Wu, J. Zheng, Y. Wang, C.R. Glen, D.R. Collins, M.J. Molina, and R. Zhang*, Markedly enhanced absorption and direct radiative forcing of black carbon under polluted urban environments, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, 4266–4271 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1602310113 (453 cites)
(9)# Zhang*, R., G. Wang†, S. Guo†, M.L. Zamora‡, Q. Ying, Y. Lin‡, W. Wang†, M. Hu, and Y. Wang‡, Formation of urban fine particulate matter, Chem. Rev. 115, 3803-3855 (2015). https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-11967-2015 (998 cites)
(10)# Guo†, S., M. Hu, Misti L. Zamora‡, J. Peng†, D. Shang, J. Zheng, Z. Du, Z. Wu, M. Shao, L. Zeng, M.J. Molina, R. Zhang*, Elucidating severe urban haze formation in China, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 111, 17373–17378 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1419604111 (1404 cites)
(11) Wang‡, Y., R. Zhang*, R. Saravanan, Asian pollution climatically modulates mid-latitude cyclones following hierarchical modeling and observational analysis, Nature Commun. 4, 3098, doi:10.1038/ncomms4098 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4098 (166 cites)
(12) Zhang*, R., A.F. Khalizov†, L. Wang†, M. Hu, W. Xu‡, Nucleation and growth of nanoparticles in the atmosphere, Chem. Rev. 112, 1957-2011 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1021/cr2001756 (974 cites)
(13) Zhang*, R., Getting to the critical nucleus of aerosol formation, Science 328, 1366-1367, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1189732 (314 cites)
(14) Wang†, L., A.F. Khalizov†, J. Zheng†, W. Xu‡, V. Lal‡, Y. Ma†, and R. Zhang*, Atmospheric nanoparticles formed from heterogeneous reactions of organics, Nature Geosci. 3, 238-242 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo778 (259 cites)
(15) Zhang*, R., L. Wang†, A. F. Khalizov†, J. Zhao‡, J. Zheng, R. L. McGraw, and L. T. Molina, Formation of nanoparticles of blue haze enhanced by anthropogenic pollution, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 106 17650-17654 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0910125106 (238 cites)
(16) Aiken, A. C., D. Salcedo, M. J. Cubison, J. A. Huffman, P. F. DeCarlo, I. M. Ulbrich, K. S. Docherty, D. Sueper, J. R. Kimmel, D. R. Worsnop, A. Trimborn, M. Northway, E. A. Stone, J. J. Schauer, R. Volkamer, E. Fortner‡, B. de Foy, J. Wang, A. Laskin, V. Shutthanandan, J. Zheng†, R. Zhang, J. Gaffney, N. A. Marley, G. Paredes-Miranda, W. P. Arnott, L. T. Molina, G. Sosa, and J. L. Jimenez, Mexico City aerosol analysis during MILAGRO using high resolution aerosol mass spectrometry at the urban supersite (T0) – Part 1: Fine particle composition and organic source apportionment, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 9, 6633–6653 (2009). https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-6633-2009 (456 cites)
(17) Zhang*, R., G. Li‡, J. Fan‡, D.L. Wu, and M. J. Molina, Intensification of Pacific storm track linked to Asian pollution, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104, 5295-5299 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.070061810 (212 cites)
(18) Zhang*, R., A.F. Khalizov†, J. Pagels†, D. Zhang‡, H. Xue‡, and P.H. McMurry, Variability in morphology, hygroscopic and optical properties of soot aerosols during internal mixing in the atmosphere, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105, 10291–10296 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080486010 (678 cites).
(19) Zhang*, R., I. Suh‡, J. Zhao‡, D. Zhang‡, E.C. Fortner‡, X. Tie, L.T. Molina, and M.J. Molina, Atmospheric new particle formation enhanced by organic acids, Science 304, 1487-1490 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1095139 (727 cites)
(20) Molina, M.J., R. Zhang, P.J. Wooldridge, J.E. Kim, J.R. McMahon, H.Y. Chang, and K.D. Beyer, Physical chemistry of the H2SO4/HNO3/H2O system: Implications for the formation of polar stratospheric clouds, Science 261, 1418-1423 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.261.5127.1418 (233 cites)
Statistics for Renyi Zhang’s Publications
| Journal | Impact Factor | # of Published Papers |
| Chemical Reviews | 62.1 | 2 |
| Science | 56.9 | 3 |
| Nature Climate Change | 30.7 | 1 |
| Nature Geoscience | 18.3 | 1 |
| Nature Communications | 16.6 | 1 |
| Journal of the American Chemical Society | 15.0 | 6 |
| Environmental Science & Technology | 11.4 | 20 |
| Proceedings of National Academy of Science USA | 11.1 | 22 |
| Thorax | 10.0 | 1 |
| Science of the Total Environment | 9.8 | 1 |
| Chemosphere | 8.8 | 1 |
| Environmental Research | 8.3 | 2 |
| Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society | 8.0 | 1 |
| Analytical Chemistry | 7.4 | 2 |
| Antioxidants | 7.0 | 2 |
| Journal of Environmental Sciences | 6.9 | 1 |
| Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems | 6.8 | 1 |
| Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics | 6.3 | 29 |
| Environmental Science and Pollution Research | 5.8 | 1 |
| Advances in Atmospheric Sciences | 5.8 | 2 |
| Science – China | 5.7 | 1 |
| Atmospheric Research | 5.5 | 1 |
| Geophysical Research Letters | 5.2 | 13 |
| Aerosol Science & Technology | 5.2 | 2 |
| Atmospheric Environment | 5.0 | 15 |
| Journal of Climate | 4.9 | 1 |
| Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine | 4.7 | 1 |
| Journal of Aerosol Science | 4.5 | 1 |
| Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres | 4.4 | 37 |
| Journal of Chemical Physics | 4.4 | 8 |
| Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology | 4.3 | 1 |
| Aerosol and Air Quality Research | 4.0 | 1 |
| Toxicological Sciences | 3.8 | 1 |
| ACS Earth and Space Chemistry | 3.4 | 1 |
| Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics | 3.3 | 3 |
| Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences | 3.1 | 2 |
| Journal of Physical Chemistry A | 2.9 | 27 |
| Chemical Physics Letters | 2.8 | 9 |
| Tellus | 2.4 | 2 |
| Environmental Chemistry | 2.3 | 1 |
| Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry | 2.0 | 1 |
| International Journal of Mass Spectrometry | 1.8 | 1 |
| Journal of Applied Meteorology | 1.7 | 2 |
| Review of Scientific Instruments | 1.6 | 1 |
| Advances in Quantum Chemistry | 1.0 | 1 |
Education
Postdoc Researcher, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 1993 – 1996
Ph.D. in Atmospheric Chemistry, MIT, 1994 (Advisor: Mario J. Molina, Chemistry Nobel Laurate)
M.S. in Physics, University of Nevada – Reno, 1989
B.S. in Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 1983
Awards
Humboldt Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, 2024
Outstanding Career Award, College of Arts & Sciences, TAMU, 2023
Sigma Xi Outstanding Distinguished Scientist Award, TAMU, 2018
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2016
A named symposium for Renyi Zhang at American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, 2016
Honor Award for Scientific Excellence, Division of Environmental Chemistry, ACS, 2016
Fellow, American Meteorological Society, 2015
University Distinguished Professor, TAMU, 2014 – present
University-Level Distinguished Achievement Award – Research, TAMU, 2012
Fellow, American Geophysical Union (AGU), 2012
Holder of Harold J. Haynes Endowed Chair in Geosciences, TAMU, 2010 – present
Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in International Research, TAMU, 2009
Distinguished Achievement Award for Faculty Research, College of Geosciences, TAMU, 2002
NASA New Investigator Award, 1998
NASA Graduate Fellowship, 1990 – 1993
Links
Dr. Renyi Zhang's Group Website
Profile Page - Chemistry Department
Experience
- Editor, Perspectives of Earth and Space Scientists, 2019 – present
- Guest Editor, Proceedings of National Academy of Science USA, 2019 – 2021
- Board Director, Molina Center for Energy and the Environment, 2016 – 2022
- Editor, Oxford Research Encyclopedia – Environmental Science, Oxford Univ. Press, 2014 – 2021
- Editor, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 2014 – 2018
- Chair, Committee on Atmospheric Chemistry, American Meteorological Society (AMS), 2011 – 2015
- Member, International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution, 2010 – 2018
- Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, 2009 – 2013
- Director, Center for Atmospheric Chemistry and the Environment, TAMU, 2007 – 2016
- Professor, Department of Chemistry, TAMU, 2007 – present
- Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, TAMU, 2005 – present
- Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, TAMU, 2002 – 2005
- Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, TAMU, 1997 – 2002
- Research Scientist, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, MIT, 1996 – 1997
