Urban Air Quality Lab
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Researchers, Students, and Collaborators
The Urban Air Quality Lab brings together expertise in aerosol science, exposure assessment, environmental health, sensor technologies, data analytics, and community-engaged research.
Leadership in Air Quality Science and Environmental Health
Dr. Lung-Wen Antony Chen
Director, Urban Air Quality Lab
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Global Health
School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dr. Chen is an air quality scientist whose research focuses on analytical and modeling methods for carbonaceous aerosols, air pollution monitoring, source apportionment, exposure assessment, and environmental determinants of respiratory health disparities.
He joined the UNLV School of Public Health in 2015 and was tenured as Associate Professor of Environmental Health in 2020. He has more than 20 years of experience in air quality research across the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Scientific Contributions and Impact
20+
Years of air quality research experience
110+
Peer-reviewed publications
7,000+
Research citations
45
Web of Science H-index as of August 2025
Core Areas of Scientific Leadership
Carbonaceous Aerosols
Development and application of analytical and modeling methods for black carbon, brown carbon, and organic aerosol characterization.
Source Apportionment
Receptor modeling, chemical mass balance, HERM, and Smart-CMB approaches for identifying air pollution sources.
Air Pollution Monitoring
Field measurements, low-cost sensor networks, fenceline monitoring, and community-centered environmental surveillance.
Exposure & Health Disparities
Assessment of air pollution exposure, respiratory health disparities, COVID-19 disparities, and environmental justice issues.
Awards, Service, and Professional Leadership
Outstanding Research Award
Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Frank A. Chambers Excellence in Air Pollution Control Award
Air & Waste Management Association.
Excellence in Service Award
School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Associate Editor and Guest Editor Roles
Aerosol Science and Engineering, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, and Journal of Geophysical Research–Atmospheres.
Academic Background
Education
- Postdoctoral Training: Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute
- Ph.D.: Chemical Physics, University of Maryland, College Park
- M.S.: Physics, National Taiwan University
- B.S.: Physics, National Taiwan University
Current Appointments
- Associate Professor, Environmental and Global Health, UNLV School of Public Health
- Director, Urban Air Quality Lab
- Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute
- Graduate Faculty, Atmospheric Science Program, University of Nevada, Reno
- Executive Committee Member, Interdisciplinary Water Resources PhD Program, UNLV
Training the Next Generation of Environmental Health Scientists
Dr. Chen has advised and mentored graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, undergraduate interns, visiting scholars, and early-career faculty across public health, engineering, atmospheric science, and environmental science. UAQL research provides students with hands-on experience in environmental monitoring, laboratory analysis, statistical modeling, geospatial analytics, and community-engaged research.
Graduate Training
Thesis and dissertation advising, research methods, air pollution science, and public health practice.
Applied Research Skills
Sensor deployment, source apportionment, exposure assessment, dashboard development, and data analytics.
Career Development
Manuscript writing, conference presentations, grant development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Students, Staff, and Collaborators
Graduate Students
Profiles of current MPH, MS, and PhD students will be added here.
Research Staff
Research assistants, analysts, interns, and project staff will be listed here.
Alumni
Former students and postdoctoral researchers will be highlighted here.
Collaborators
Institutional, community, and international collaborators will be added here.
Interested in Joining or Collaborating with UAQL?
We welcome inquiries from students, community partners, researchers, agencies, and organizations interested in air quality, exposure assessment, and environmental health.