Group Members

Daniel Cohan

Daniel Cohan is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University. His research specializes in the development of atmospheric models and their application to air quality management, energy policy, and health studies. He received a B.A. in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University, a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Chemistry from Georgia Tech, and served as a Fulbright Scholar to Australia. Dr. Cohan serves on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Board of Scientific Counselors climate change subcommittee, is a recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award, and was a member of NASA's Air Quality Applied Sciences Team. He is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed publications, 75 articles in popular media, and the book, Confronting Climate Gridlock (Yale University Press, 2022).

Graduate Students

Chen Chen

Chen Chen is a Ph.D. student modeling the future electric system expansion in the United States. He also studied the potential environmental and health benefits from energy transition. Chen completed his M.S. degree in Environmental Sciences at Emory University.

Chun-Ying Chao

Chun-Ying Chao received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan and his master’s degree under the supervision of Dr. Pratim Biswas from Washington University in St. Louis. His Ph.D. research is focused on atmospheric chemistry after different types of precipitation. He collects air quality data from the TRacking Aerosol Convection Interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) field campaign across Houston and uses statistical analysis to understand the composition, sources, and impact of particulate matter.

Grant Parajuli

Grant Parajuli is a Ph.D. student researching emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from soils. He received his bachelor's degree in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences from Rice University.

Undergraduate Students

Leticia Souto

Leticia Souto is an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering student with a keen interest in energy and sustainability. Her current research focuses on the air quality and health effects of power plant emissions.

Arkin Si

Arkin Si is an undergraduate student majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Caroline Hashimoto

Caroline Hashimoto is an undergraduate student majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Statistics. Her research focuses on environmental modeling, and she has interests in atmospheric chemistry and environmental health.

Alumni of the Cohan Research Group