Peter Peterson, PhD

Peter Peterson, PhD

Peter Peterson completed bachelor’s degrees in both Chemistry and Physics at Eastern Washington University. He obtained a PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2015. Following a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Michigan, he joined the faculty at Whittier College in 2018. Peter and his group focus on using remote sensing and spectroscopy to understand pollution chemistry, halogen chemistry, and air-ice chemical interactions. In the classroom, Peter focuses on training students in the fundamentals of analytical chemistry with an emphasis on instrumental design and computer programming.

Peterson Laboratory: Atmospheric Chemistry Research at Whittier College

The Peterson Lab studies the remote sensing of atmospheric trace gas and aerosol vertical profiles to better understand processes associated with air quality and climate change in both urban environments and the polar regions.

Research Interests

  1. Remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases from the ground and aircraft
  2. Impacts of climate change and land use changes on air quality in urban environments
  3. Tropospheric halogen chemistry with a focus on the polar regions

For Prospective Members

We are looking for prospective students, who are excited about environmental science, chemistry, and fieldwork. While prior computer programming experience is not required, a familiarity with or willingness to learn Python is a plus. If you are a Whittier College student and are interested in joining us, please contact Prof. Peterson in person or by email to set up a meeting.