

Jason D. Surratt, PhD

Jason D. Surratt, PhD
Professor Surratt specializes in atmospheric chemistry fundamentals.
Dr. Surratt's lab utilizes advanced mass spectrometry and chromatographic techniques to understand as deeply as possible the atmospheric chemistry that occurs in both the gas and particulate phases, with special focus on the chemistry leading to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA).
Since SOA is a major fraction of atmospheric fine particulate matter, chemically characterizing it resolves its sources and impacts on climate, air quality and public health. By using this approach, Dr. Surratt has helped to reveal the detailed chemical pathways leading to SOA formation from the atmospheric oxidation of isoprene (the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbon on Earth) in the presence of anthropogenic pollutants.
His research combines synthetic organic and atmospheric analytical chemistry with toxicogenomics, toxicology and systems biology.
Jason Surratt in the Gillings news
- Forever chemicals found in air pollution near Fayetteville manufacturing plant
- Gillings faculty complete innovative Round 6, COVID-19 GILs
- Floor waxing could be an important source of PFAS contamination, with increased occupational health risks for workers
- Gillings researchers receive EPA grant to study PFAS in outdoor air
- $12M NSF grant will establish nationwide atmospheric measurement network
Honors and Awards
Kenneth T. Whitby Award2021, American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR)
Newton Underwood Award for Excellence in Teaching2020, UNC-CH, Gillings School of Global Public Health
Reviewer Award2019, Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) Letters
Best Paper Award for Zhang et al., “Effect of Aerosol-Phase State on Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from the Reactive Uptake of Isoprene-Derived Epoxydiols (IEPOX)"2019, Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) Letters
Teaching Innovation Award2018, UNC-CH, Gillings School of Global Public Health
Selected Highly Prolific Authors2017, ES&T Letters
James J. Morgan Early Career Award Lectureship, Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)2016, American Chemical Society
Ruth and Philip Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement2015, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Editors’ Citation For Excellence in Refereeing2015, Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR) – Atmospheres
Camille & Henry Dreyfus Environmental Chemistry Mentor2013
Sheldon K. Friedlander Award2013, American Association for Aerosol Research
Early Career Award2013, Environmental Protection Agency
Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award2012, Health Effects Institute
Atmospheric Chemistry Colloquium for Emerging Senior Scientists (ACCESS)2011, Gordon Research Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry
Fast Breaking Paper In the Field of Environment/Ecology for the manuscript entitled: "Evidence for Organosulfates in Secondary Organic Aerosol"2008, ScienceWatch.com
EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Graduate Fellowship2004-2007, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Representative Courses
Environmental Chemistry (ENVR 403)
Aerosol Physics and Chemistry (ENVR 416)
Research Interest
- Air Quality and Atmosphere Science
Key Publications
PFOS Dominates PFAS Composition in Ambient Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Collected Across North Carolina Nearly 20 Years After the End of Its US Production. Zhou, J.; Baumann, K.; Mead, R. N.; Skrabal, S. A.; Kieber, R. J.; Avery, G. B.; Shimizu, M.; DeWitt, J. C.; Sun, M.; Vance, S. A.; Bodnar, W.; Zhang, Z.; Collins, L. B.; Surratt, J. D.*; Turpin, B. J.* (2021). Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts, 23(4), 580-587.
Heterogeneous Hydroxyl Radical Oxidation of Isoprene Epoxydiol-Derived Methyltetrol Sulfates: Plausible Formation Mechanisms of Previously Unexplained Organosulfates in Ambient Fine Aerosols. Chen, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Lambe, A. T.; Rongshuang, X.; Lei, Z.; Olson, N. E.; Zhang, Z.; Szalkowski, T.; Cui, T.; Vizuete, W.; Gold, A.; Turpin, B. J.; Ault, A. P.; Chan, M.N.; Surratt, J.D.* (2020). Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 7(7), 460-468.
Increasing Isoprene Epoxydiol-to-Inorganic Sulfate Aerosol Ratio Results in Extensive Conversion of Inorganic Sulfate to Organosulfur Forms: Implications for Aerosol Physicochemical Properties. Riva, M.; Chen, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Lei, Z; Olson, N. E.; Boyer, H. C.; Narayan, S.; Yee, L. D.; Green, H. S.; Cui, T.; Zhang, Z.; Baumann, K. D.; Fort, M.; Edgerton E. S.; Budisulistiorini, S. H.; Rose, C. A.; Ribeiro, I. O.; e Oliveira, R. L.; dos Santos, E. O.; Szopa, S.; Machado, C. M. D.; Zhao, Y.; Alves, E. G.; de Sá, S.S.; Hu, W.; Knipping, E. M.; Shaw, S. L.; Duvoisin Junior, S.; de Souza, R. A. F.; Palm, B. B.; Jimenez, J. L.; Glasius, M.; Goldstein, A. H.; Pye, H. O. T.; Gold, A.; Turpin, B. J.; Vizuete, W.; Martin, S. T.; Thornton, J. A.; Dutcher, C. S.; Ault, A. P.*; Surratt, J. D.* (2019). Environmental Science & Technology, 53(15), 8682-8694.
Development of a Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (HILIC) Method for the Chemical Characterization of Water-Soluble Isoprene Epoxydiol (IEPOX)-Derived Secondary Organic Aerosol. Cui, T.; Zheng, Z.; dos Santos, E. O.; Zhang, Z.; Chen, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Rose, C. A.; Budisulistiorini, S. H.; Collins, L. B.; Bodnar, W. M.; de Souza, R. A. F.; Martin, S. T.; Machado, C. M. D.; Turpin, B. J.; Gold, A.; Ault, A. P.; Surratt, J. D.* (2018). Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 20(11), 1524-1536.
Effect of Aerosol-Phase State on Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from the Reactive Uptake of Isoprene-Derived Epoxydiols (IEPOX). Zhang, Y.; Chen, Y.; Lambe, A. T.; Olson, N. E.; Lei, Z.; Craig, R. L.; Zhang, Z.; Gold, A.; Onasch, T. B.; Jayne, J. T.; Worsnop, D. R.; Gaston, C. J.; Thornton, J. A.; Vizuete, W.; Ault, A. P.; Surratt, J. D.* (2018). Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 5(3), 167-174.
Education
PhD, Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, 2010
BS, Meteorology, North Carolina State University, 2003
BA, Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2003