AQ-SPEC About Us

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AQ-SPEC Team Members

Wilton Mui, Ph.D.

Program Supervisor

Dr. Wilton Mui is a Program Supervisor in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He has previously served for five years as an Air Quality Specialist in the AQ-SPEC program, specializing in aerosol measurement, test standard development, and air sensor evaluation using environmental chambers and mobile air monitoring platforms. Wilton 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.

Michelle Kuang, Ph.D.

Air Quality Specialist

Dr. Michelle Kuang is an Air Quality Specialist 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. Michelle 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, M.A.

Air Quality Specialist

Randy Lam is an Air Quality Specialist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He specializes in community monitoring initiatives involving air quality sensors, sensor network management, public education/outreach, sensor scouting and field testing, and implementation of the Sensor Library Program. He has previously worked in the Monitoring Network group at South Coast AQMD. Randy received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and his Master of Arts in Teaching degrees from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to joining South Coast AQMD, Mr. Lam was a high school science teacher and has taught courses in biology, earth science, oceanography and forensics.

Ehsan Mosadegh, Ph.D.

Air Quality Specialist

Dr. Ehsan Mosadegh is an Air Quality Specialist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He specializes in building data pipelines, air quality forecast models, and application of artificial intelligence algorithms in air quality and satellite remote sensing datasets. Ehsan holds both a Master’s of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Nevada, Reno. He also holds a Master’s of Science degree in Air Pollution Engineering from the University of Tehran.

Namrata Shanmukh Panji, Ph.D.

Air Quality Specialist

Dr. Namrata Shanmukh Panji is an Air Quality Specialist in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. She specializes in instrument development, laboratory testing of sensors, measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), emissions modeling, data analysis, and report automation. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering from BMS College of Engineering, India and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a focus on atmospheric sciences.

Noel Ruiz, B.S.

Air Quality Instrument Specialist II

Noel Ruiz is an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He specializes in laboratory testing of sensors and remote calibration of sensor networks. Prior to joining AQ-SPEC, he served for five years in the Operations/Federal Program group at South Coast AQMD operating an air monitoring site in the South Coast AQMD network. Noel received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Cal Poly Pomona.

Leslie Garcia, M.S.

Air Quality Instrument Specialist I

Leslie Garcia is an Air Quality Instrument Specialist I in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. She specializes in field testing and deployment of sensors. Leslie began her South Coast AQMD career in the Operations/Federal Program group. Leslie received her Bachelor of Science in Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences and her Master of Science in Earth Sciences degrees from the University of California, San Diego.

Emily Bermudez

Undergraduate Student Intern

Emily is currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Riverside, where she is entering her fourth year. Emily has participated in technical projects through the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AiChE), she contributed to the Chem-E-Car competition as a member of the electrical team. She is also an active member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). In AQ-SPEC, Emily works on datalogging scripts for sensor evaluations and modernization of laboratory evaluation reports.

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, and technology and methods development. 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.

Brandon Feenstra, Ph.D.

Quality Assurance Manager

Dr. Brandon Feenstra is the Quality Assurance Manager in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He was previously in AQ-SPEC between 2014 and 2022, first as an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II (2014 - 2017) and then, as an Air Quality Specialist (2017 - 2022). 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.

Advisory Board

Click here to view our advisory board.

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.

Berj Der Boghossian, M.Sc.
Berj Der Boghossian was an AQ-SPEC member between 2017 and 2024 first as an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II (2017 - 2018) and then as an Air Quality Specialist (2018 - 2024) in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. He was 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 was involved in the development of methodologies for hyperlocal air quality mapping and the management of measurement data using mobile platforms. Berj 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.

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.
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. Emma 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.

Jenna Drewitz, B.S.
Jenna Drewitz was an AQ-SPEC member between 2024 and 2025 as an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. Her work included field deployment of sensors and maintenance of sensor networks. Jenna received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a minor in Physiology from Cal Poly Pomona.

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.
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. Steve received his Master of Nuclear Engineering degree in Health Physics Medical from the University of Florida.

Vasileios Papapostolou, Sc.D.

Dr. Vasileios Papapostolou was an AQ-SPEC member between 2015 and 2023, first as an Air Quality Specialist (2015 - 2018) and then, as the AQ-SPEC Program Supervisor (2018 - 2023) in the Monitoring & Analysis Division of South Coast AQMD. His work included 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 Doctor of Science degree in Environmental Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Victor Rocha Jr., B.S.
Victor Rocha Jr. was an AQ-SPEC member between 2024 and 2025 as an Air Quality Instrument Specialist II. his work included evaluation of air quality sensors in the field, laboratory, and mobile platform, as well as modernization of the AQ-SPEC website. Victor received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Cal Poly Pomona.

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