Vasileios Papapostolou, Sc.D.
Program Supervisor
Dr. Vasileios Papapostolou is the Program Supervisor for AQ-SPEC in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. His primary responsibilities include the overall oversight and guidance for the South Coast AQMD air quality sensor related projects (i.e., performance evaluation, deployment of networks, data management, community outreach and education). Dr. Papapostolou received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens in Greece, his Master of Science in Exposure Assessment and Doctor of Science in Environmental Health degrees from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Berj Der Boghossian, M.Sc.
Air Quality Specialist
Mr. Berj Der Boghossian is an Air Quality Specialist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He is responsible for the design, development, optimization, and implementation of mobile platforms that conduct mobile measurements of ambient air pollutants using air quality sensors and regulatory-grade instrumentation. He is involved in the development of methodologies for hyperlocal air quality mapping and the management of measurement data using mobile platforms. Mr. Der Boghossian received his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from University of California, Riverside and his Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from California State University, Fullerton. He has an Engineer-in-Training certification.
Michelle Kuang, Ph.D.
Air Quality Instrument Specialist II
Dr. Michelle Kuang is an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. She is responsible for chamber test method development, design and execution of laboratory chamber experiments, data analysis, and development of laboratory and field sensor performance evaluation reports. Dr. Kuang received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from University of California, San Diego, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Atmospheric Science from University of California, Los Angeles.
Randy Lam, MA
Air Quality Instrument Specialist II
Mr. Randy Lam is an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He is responsible for the field deployment aspect of AQ-SPEC evaluations and for outreach and educating the public on applications of low cost sensors. Mr. Lam received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and his Master of Arts in Teaching degrees from the University of California, Irvine. He has previously worked as an operator at air monitoring stations and taught various subjects as a high school science teacher.
Wilton Mui, Ph.D.
Air Quality Specialist
Dr. Wilton Mui is an Air Quality Specialist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He specializes in aerosol measurement, test standard development, and air sensor evaluation using environmental chambers and mobile air monitoring platforms. Dr. Mui received his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida, and his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Environmental Science and Engineering from the California Institute of Technology. He has an Engineer-in-Training certification and is a South Coast AQMD Certified Permitting Professional.
Administration
Andrea Polidori, Ph.D.
Assistant Deputy Executive Officer
Dr. Andrea Polidori is the Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of the Monitoring and Analysis Division. He has over 20 years of experience in scientific research, air pollution measurements, technology and methods development and environmental justice. Dr. Polidori began his career at South Coast AQMD in 2009, where he has been leading the development and implementation of several innovative air monitoring and community programs including AQ-SPEC. He received his B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Urbino University (Italy), and graduated with a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Rutgers University (New Jersey). Prior to joining South Coast AQMD, Dr. Polidori was a Research Assistant Professor in the Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Former Members
Ashley Collier-Oxandale, Ph.D.
Dr. Ashley Collier-Oxandale was an AQ-SPEC member between 2018 and 2023 as an Air Quality Specialist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. Her work included the analysis of data from air quality sensors and building tools and resources to support engagement and participation by the public in air quality research. Dr. Collier-Oxandale received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Brandon Feenstra, Ph.D.
Dr. Brandon Feenstra was an AQ-SPEC member between 2014 and 2022, first as an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II (2014 - 2017) and then, as an Air Quality Specialist (2017 - 2022) in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. His work included the field deployment aspect of AQ-SPEC evaluations, the development and deployment of air quality sensor networks, and the development of software tools to manage sensor data. Dr. Feenstra received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Riverside.
David Herman, Ph.D.
Dr. David Herman was an AQ-SPEC member between 2020 and 2022 as an Assistant Air Quality Specialist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. His work included assisting in developing and implementing the second AQ-SPEC laboratory chamber system, executing laboratory chamber experiments, analyzing sensor test data and developing sensor performance evaluation reports. Dr. Herman received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California, Irvine.
Emma Ranheim, B.A.
Ms. Emma Ranheim was an Undergraduate Student Intern in AQ-SPEC between June and August 2019. Her assignment included assisting with the development and user testing of the AirSensor R package, processing and conducting initial analysis of data from an AQ-SPEC mobile platform and helping to organize the pilot Sensor Library Program. Ms. Ranheim received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Environment, Economics and Politics from Claremont McKenna College.
Hang Zhang, Ph.D.
Dr. Hang Zhang was an AQ-SPEC member between 2015 and 2019 as an Air Quality Chemist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. Her work included conducting chamber testing experiments, data analysis and generating laboratory and summary sensor performance evaluation reports. Dr. Zhang received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Sahil Bhandari, Ph.D.
Dr. Sahil Bhandari was a Graduate Student Intern in AQ-SPEC between July and August 2019. His assignment included assisting with conducting laboratory chamber experiments related to the development of ASTM D8405-21 and analyzing data from these experiments. He also developed hygroscopicity-based corrections for particle sensors, investigated the use of source apportionment techniques with particle sensors and presented these results at the 2019 AAAR and 2019 AGU conferences. Dr. Bhandari received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas-Austin.
Steve Boddeker, M. Eng.
Mr. Steve Boddeker was an AQ-SPEC member between 2018 and 2019 as an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. His work included deploying sensors in the field and helping develop the early AQ-SPEC mobile platforms including integrating instruments with data logger and upgrading batteries. Mr. Boddeker received his Master of Nuclear Engineering degree in Health Physics Medical from the University of Florida.