Dr Katherine Manfred

Research

Road traffic remains one of the main sources of particles < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) in the UK, however the relative contribution from non-exhaust sources - including road dust and brake and tyre wear - is becoming increasingly significant compared to declining exhaust emissions. As the types of PM2.5 change with the evolution of vehicle technology, the physical characteristics linked to climate and health impacts are also likely to change.

My research focuses on developing laser-based spectroscopic techniques to measure aerosol particles from road traffic. Optical instruments offer powerful solutions to learn about PM2.5: the way light interacts with particles provides information on the size, shape, refractive index, and structure of the particles, properties which are directly linked to public health and climate.

Career Summary

• NERC/DfT Independent Research Fellow, University of York (2019- )
• PDRA, University of Oxford (2018-2019)
• Research Scientist, NOAA ESRL with Dr. Dan Murphy, Cloud & Aerosol Processes Group (2016-2018)
• DPhil Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Oxford under Prof. Grant Ritchie (2012-2016)
• Visiting student, University of Bristol with Prof. Andrew Orr-Ewing (2010-2011)
• Undergraduate research assistant, University of Maryland with Prof. John Fourkas (2008-2012)

Publications

Selected publications (for a full list see the York Research database link in the right-hand column)

• Evidence in biomass burning smoke for a light-absorbing aerosol with properties intermediate between brown and black carbon. G. Adler, N. L. Wagner, K. D. Lamb, K. M. Manfred, J. P. Schwarz, A. Franchin, A. M. Middlebrook, R. A. Washenfelder, C. C. Womack, R. J. Yokelson and D. M. Murphy, Aerosol Sci. Technol, 2019, DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2019.1617832.‌
• Investigating biomass burning aerosol morphology using a laser imaging nephelometer. K. M. Manfred, R. A. Washenfelder, N. L. Wagner, G. Adler, F. Erdesz, C. C. Womack, K. D. Lamb, J. P. Schwarz, A. Franchin, V. Selimovic, R. J. Yokelson and D. M. Murphy. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 1879-1894, 2018, DOI: 10.5194/acp-18-1879-2018.
• ICL-based OF-CEAS: A sensitive tool for analytical chemistry. K. M. Manfred, K. M. Hunter, L. Ciaffoni and G. A. D. Ritchie, Anal. Chem., 89, 902-909, 2017, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b04030.
• Enhancing the sensitivity of mid-IR quantum cascade laser-based cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy using RF current perturbation. K. M. Manfred, J. M. R. Kirkbride, L. Ciaffoni, R. Peverall and G. A. D. Ritchie, Opt. Lett., 39, 6811-6814, 2014, DOI: 10.1364/OL.39.006811
• Comparison of the accuracy of aerosol refractive index measurements from single particle and ensemble techniques. B. J. Mason, S.-J. King, R. E. H. Miles, K. M. Manfred, A. M. J. Rickards, J. Kim, J. P. Reid and A. J. Orr-Ewing, J. Phys. Chem. A, 116, 8547-8556, 2012, DOI: 10.1021/jp3049668.

Group

• Seth Arthur-Hastie