Kimberly Prather

Prather was born in Santa Rosa, California.{{Cite web|url=http://scrippsscholars.ucsd.edu/kprather/biocv|title=Bio|website=Research Profiles|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01|archive-date=2020-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616105046/http://scrippsscholars.ucsd.edu/kprather/biocv|url-status=dead}} She studied at Santa Rosa Junior College and University of California, Davis, earning a bachelor's degree in 1985 and a PhD in 1990.{{Cite web|url=http://scrippsscholars.ucsd.edu/kprather|title=Research Profiles|website=Research Profiles|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} She served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley between 1990 and 1992, working with Nobel Laureate Yuan T. Lee. Prather joined University of California, Riverside as an assistant professor in 1992.{{Cite journal|last1=Quinn|first1=Patricia K.|author-link1=Patricia Quinn (scientist)|last2=Collins|first2=Douglas B.|last3=Grassian|first3=Vicki H.|last4=Prather|first4=Kimberly A.|last5=Bates|first5=Timothy S.|date=2015-04-06|title=Chemistry and Related Properties of Freshly Emitted Sea Spray Aerosol|journal=Chemical Reviews|volume=115|issue=10|pages=4383–4399|doi=10.1021/cr500713g|pmid=25844487|issn=0009-2665}} During her time at UC Riverside she began to work on aerosol mass spectrometry, developing ways to make it compact and transportable. She patented the technology.{{Cite web|url=https://caice.ucsd.edu/labs/kimberly-a-prather/|title=Kimberly A. Prather|website=CAICE|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}{{Citation|title=Compact aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8648294B2/en|access-date=2019-01-01}}{{Citation|title=Method and apparatus for determining the size and chemical composition of aerosol particles|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5681752A/en|access-date=2019-01-01}}{{Citation|title=Portable analyzer for determining size and chemical composition of an aerosol|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5998215A/en|access-date=2019-01-01}}

File:ATOFMS.png

In 2001, Prather joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego as a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.{{Cite web|url=https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/acs-webinars/presenters/prather-kimberly.html|title=Prather, Kimberly|website=American Chemical Society|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} Prather's early research focused on determining the major sources of fine particle pollution in California as well as in the Northeastern United States.{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/6146|title=Research Consortium on Ozone and Fine Particle Formation in California and in the Northeastern United States {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/6150|title=Research Consortium on Ozone and Fine Particle Formation in California and in the Northeastern United States: Cal Tech, UC-Riverside, UC-San Diego, UC-Davis Report {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} As part of this research, she explored methods to distinguish between different aerosol sources based on their single particle composition and size.{{Cite journal|last1=Bhave|first1=Prakash V.|last2=Fergenson|first2=David P.|last3=Prather|first3=Kimberly A.|last4=Cass|first4=Glen R.|date=2001-05-01|title=Source Apportionment of Fine Particulate Matter by Clustering Single-Particle Data: Tests of Receptor Model Accuracy|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=35|issue=10|pages=2060–2072|doi=10.1021/es0017413|pmid=11393988|bibcode=2001EnST...35.2060B|issn=0013-936X}} She developed aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS), a technique with high temporal and size resolution.{{Cite journal|last1=Bhave|first1=Prakash V.|last2=Allen|first2=Jonathan O.|last3=Morrical|first3=Bradley D.|last4=Fergenson|first4=David P.|last5=Cass|first5=Glen R.|last6=Prather|first6=Kimberly A.|date=2002-11-01|title=A Field-Based Approach for Determining ATOFMS Instrument Sensitivities to Ammonium and Nitrate|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=36|issue=22|pages=4868–4879|doi=10.1021/es015823i|pmid=12487311|bibcode=2002EnST...36.4868B|issn=0013-936X|url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/67733/2/es015823i-3_s1.pdf}}{{Cite journal|last1=Song|first1=Xin-Hua|last2=Hopke|first2=Philip K.|last3=Fergenson|first3=David P.|last4=Prather|first4=Kimberly A.|date=1999-02-01|title=Classification of Single Particles Analyzed by ATOFMS Using an Artificial Neural Network, ART-2A|journal=Analytical Chemistry|volume=71|issue=4|pages=860–865|doi=10.1021/ac9809682|issn=0003-2700}} In 1999 she began to work with the University of Rochester studying the health effects of ultrafine particles.{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/1098|title=Ultrafine Particles: Characterization, Health Effects and Pathophysiological Mechanisms {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}{{Cite journal|last1=Moffet|first1=Ryan C.|last2=Shields|first2=Laura G.|last3=Berntsen|first3=Jon|last4=Devlin|first4=Robert B.|last5=Prather|first5=Kimberly A.|date=2004|title=Characterization of an Ambient Coarse Particle Concentrator Used for Human Exposure Studies: Aerosol Size Distributions, Chemical Composition, and Concentration Enrichment|journal=Aerosol Science and Technology|volume=38|issue=11|pages=1123–1137|doi=10.1080/027868290890344|bibcode=2004AerST..38.1123M|s2cid=93186877 |issn=0278-6826|doi-access=}}{{Cite journal|doi=10.1080/02786820600729138|title = Using ATOFMS to Determine OC/EC Mass Fractions in Particles|journal = Aerosol Science and Technology|volume = 40|issue = 8|pages = 585–594|year = 2006|last1 = Spencer|first1 = Matthew T.|last2 = Prather|first2 = Kimberly A.|bibcode = 2006AerST..40..585S|doi-access = free}} She refined the detection technique so that it would precisely measure the size and composition of small particles.{{Cite journal|last1=Su|first1=Yongxuan|last2=Sipin|first2=Michele F.|last3=Furutani|first3=Hiroshi|last4=Prather|first4=Kimberly A.|date=2004-02-01|title=Development and Characterization of an Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer with Increased Detection Efficiency|journal=Analytical Chemistry|volume=76|issue=3|pages=712–719|doi=10.1021/ac034797z|pmid=14750867|issn=0003-2700}} The ultrafine ATOFMS was able to examine exhaust particles from gasoline and diesel powered vehicles.{{Cite journal|date=2008-01-01|title=Using mass spectral source signatures to apportion exhaust particles from gasoline and diesel powered vehicles in a freeway study using UF-ATOFMS|journal=Atmospheric Environment|language=en|volume=42|issue=3|pages=568–581|doi=10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.08.005|issn=1352-2310|last1=Toner|first1=Stephen M.|last2=Shields|first2=Laura G.|last3=Sodeman|first3=David A.|last4=Prather|first4=Kimberly A.|bibcode=2008AtmEn..42..568T}} She found that alongside the freeway, particles between 50 and 300 nm were mainly due to heavy-duty vehicles (51%) and light-duty vehicles (32%). She used the ultrafine ATOFMS to study atmospheric composition, combining it with ozone and NOx measurements.{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/5579|title=Characterization of the Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Ultrafine Particles {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/887|title=Real-Time Monitoring of Individual Atmospheric Aerosol Particles: Establishing Correlations Between Particle Size and Chemical Speciation {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} ATOFMS is now widely used in atmospheric studies around the world.

In 2003, she joined the advisory board of United States Environmental Protection Agency PM2.5 Clean Air.{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.highlight/abstract/6274/report/F|title=Final Report {{!}} Advancing ATOFMS to a Quantitative Tool for Source Apportionment {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} Between 2003 and 2006 Prather studied whether ATOFMS could be used to measure the carbonaceous components of aerosols (including PAHs) and help to understand atmospheric processes, distinguishing between organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC).{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/6274|title=Advancing ATOFMS to a Quantitative Tool for Source Apportionment {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} Prather showed it was possible to distinguish EC and OC on a single particle level, and investigated their chemical associations with ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate.{{Cite web|url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/6274/report/F|title=Final Report {{!}} Advancing ATOFMS to a Quantitative Tool for Source Apportionment {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA|website=cfpub.epa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} Her group explored ways to calibrate the ATOFMS data, making real-time apportionment of ambient particles possible. They did this by classifying particles using an artificial neural network (ART-2a). In 2008 she became the co-lead scientist in CalWater in collaboration with F. Martin Ralph; a multi-year interdisciplinary research effort focusing on how aerosols are impacting the water supply in the West Coast of the United States.{{Cite journal|last1=Ralph|first1=F. M.|last2=Prather|first2=K. A.|last3=Cayan|first3=D.|last4=Spackman|first4=J. R.|last5=DeMott|first5=P.|last6=Dettinger|first6=M.|last7=Fairall|first7=C.|last8=Leung|first8=R.|last9=Rosenfeld|first9=D.|date=2016|title=CalWater Field Studies Designed to Quantify the Roles of Atmospheric Rivers and Aerosols in Modulating U.S. West Coast Precipitation in a Changing Climate|journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|volume=97|issue=7|pages=1209–1228|doi=10.1175/bams-d-14-00043.1|bibcode=2016BAMS...97.1209R|issn=0003-0007|doi-access=free|url=https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14598/noaa_14598_DS1.pdf}} Her PhD student Kerri Pratt led the Ice in Clouds Experiment - Layer Clouds (ICE-L) study.{{Cite web|url=https://phys.org/news/2009-05-biological-particles-high-altitude-ice-clouds.html|title=First direct observations of biological particles in high-altitude ice clouds|website=phys.org|language=en-us|access-date=2019-01-01}} ICE-L included the first aircraft ATOFMS, named Shirley.{{Cite web|url=http://atofms.cloud.ucsd.edu/instruments/atofms|title=Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry|website=UCSD|access-date=2019-01-01}} Pratt and Prather studied ice crystals in situ on high speed aircraft flying above Wyoming, and found that the particles were mainly composed of dust or biological particles (bacteria, fungal spores or plants). Understanding the composition of airborne particles is imperative to properly evaluate their impact on climate change, as well as provide insight into how aerosol impact cloud formation and precipitation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/geo/adgeo/advcomm/fy2010_cov/ags_atmosphere_cov_report.pdf|title=CORE QUESTIONS and REPORT TEMPLATE|website=www.nsf.gov|access-date=2019-01-01}}

File:CAICE IMPACTS 2014.jpg

In 2010 she became the founding director of the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (CAICE).{{Cite web|url=https://deepdecarbon.ucsd.edu/people/prather.html|title=Kimberly Prather|website=deepdecarbon.ucsd.edu|access-date=2019-01-01}} CAICE became a National Science Foundation Phase II Center for Chemical Innovation in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170619151528.htm|title=Chemistry of sea spray particles linked for first time to formation process: Sea spray aerosols that seed clouds over three-fourths of the earth are formed by 'film' or 'jet' droplets; exposing chemical distinction could improve climate models|website=ScienceDaily|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} In this role, Prather develops new analytical techniques for studying aerosol chemistry. Her group demonstrated that dust and bioaerosols that travel from as far away as the Sahara can enhance precipitation in Western United States.{{Cite journal|last1=Prather|first1=Kimberly A.|last2=Tomlinson|first2=Jason M.|last3=Comstock|first3=Jennifer M.|last4=Minnis|first4=Patrick|last5=Ralph|first5=F. Martin|last6=White|first6=Allen B.|last7=Sullivan|first7=Ryan C.|last8=DeMott|first8=Paul J.|last9=Cazorla|first9=Alberto|date=2013-03-29|title=Dust and Biological Aerosols from the Sahara and Asia Influence Precipitation in the Western U.S.|journal=Science|language=en|volume=339|issue=6127|pages=1572–1578|doi=10.1126/science.1227279|issn=1095-9203|pmid=23449996|bibcode=2013Sci...339.1572C|s2cid=2276891}} Prather's group is studying the microbes that transfer from the ocean, become airborne and contribute to the global temperature.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/06/microbes-can-change-the-temperature/564092/|title=The Mysterious Microbes in the Sky|last=Greenwood|first=Veronique|date=2018-06-29|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-01}} Ocean-in-the lab experiments are conducted by transferring thousands of gallons of seawater from the Pacific Ocean, producing waves, and adding nutrients to induce the growth of microbes. As part of CAICE, her group was the first to identify the major factors controlling chemical composition of sea spray, finding that the characteristics depended on the physical forces and ocean biology of the waves. They demonstrated two types of droplets; "film" drops that were full of microbes and organic materials, and "jet" drops that mainly contained sea salt and other biological species. Prather's research team can now explore the impact of carbon dioxide on the global temperature by controlling the amount entering their ocean simulation chamber.{{Cite journal|last1=Prather|first1=Kimberly A.|last2=Dupont|first2=Christopher L.|last3=Burkart|first3=Michael D.|last4=Knight|first4=Rob|last5=Azam|first5=Farooq|last6=Malfatti|first6=Francesca|last7=Beall|first7=Charlotte M.|last8=Pham|first8=Kevin M.|last9=Lee|first9=Christopher|date=2018-05-22|title=Taxon-specific aerosolization of bacteria and viruses in an experimental ocean-atmosphere mesocosm|journal=Nature Communications|language=en|volume=9|issue=1|pages=2017|doi=10.1038/s41467-018-04409-z|pmid=29789621|pmc=5964107|bibcode=2018NatCo...9.2017M|issn=2041-1723}} The Scripps Ocean Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOARS) became operational in the summer of 2022 and is being used to study how wind, temperature, sunlight and pollution impact the ocean and atmosphere.{{Cite web|url=https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/national-science-foundation-awards-scripps-oceanography-28-million-develop-advanced-ocean-and|title=National Science Foundation Awards Scripps Oceanography $4 Million to Develop Advanced Ocean and Atmosphere Simulator|date=2017-10-25|website=Scripps Institution of Oceanography|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} CAICE funding was extended by the National Science Foundation in 2018, with a second $20 million grant allowing them to investigate the interaction of human pollution with ocean-produced gases and aerosols.{{Cite web|url=https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/nsf_awards_20_million_for_continued_study_of_aerosols_at_uc_san_diego|title=NSF Awards $20 Million for Continued Study of Aerosols at UC San Diego|website=ucsdnews.ucsd.edu|access-date=2019-01-01}}

Prather received the 2024 National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemical Sciences for her work furthering the understanding of atmospheric aerosols and their impact on air quality, climate, and human health.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/2024-awards/Prather.html |title=Join us in congratulating Kimberly A. Prather! |website=National Academy of Sciences |access-date=May 30, 2024 }}

• 1994 American Society for Mass Spectrometry Research Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.asms.org/about-asms-awards/research-awards|title=Research Awards|website=www.asms.org|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 1994 National Science Foundation Young Investigator
• 1997 National Science Foundation Special Creativity Award
• 1998 Gesellschaft für Aerosolforschung Smoluchowski Award{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaef.de/frames/awards/smolaw.html|title=GAeF: SMOLUCHOWSKI Award|website=www.gaef.de|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 1999 American Association for Aerosol Research Kenneth T. Whitby Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaar.org/awards/annual-awards/kenneth-t-whitby-award/|title=Kenneth T. Whitby Award|website=The American Association for Aerosol Research|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2000 ACS Analytical Chemistry Arthur F. Findeis Award{{Cite web|url=https://analyticaldivision.sites.acs.org/youngscientist.htm|title=Young Scientist|website=ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2009 UCSD Faculty Sustainability Award{{Cite web|url=https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/archive/thisweek/2009/04/27_sustainawards.asp|title=Members of the UCSD Community Recognized for Sustainability Efforts|website=ucsdnews.ucsd.edu|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2009 American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow{{Cite web|url=https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/archive/newsrel/awards/12-09AAAS.asp|title=Five UC San Diego Professors Named 2009 AAAS Fellows|website=ucsdnews.ucsd.edu|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2010 American Geophysical Union Fellow{{Cite web|url=https://honors.agu.org/honorsfellow/2349-prather/|title=Prather|website=Honors Program|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2010 American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow{{Cite web|url=https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2010/april/american-chemical-society-president-elected-to-american-academy-of-arts-and-sciences.html|title=American Chemical Society President elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences|website=American Chemical Society|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2010 ACS Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology{{Cite web|url=https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/awards/national/bytopic/acs-award-for-creative-advances-in-environmental-science-and-technology.html|title=ACS Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology|website=American Chemical Society|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2011 ACS San Diego Distinguished Scientist Award{{Cite web|url=https://www-chem.ucsd.edu/faculty/profiles/prather_kimberly_a.html|title=Prather, Kimberly|website=www-chem.ucsd.edu|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2015 California Air Resources Board Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award{{Cite web|url=https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/haagen-smit-clean-air-awards/haagen-smit-award-recipients|title=Haagen-Smit Award Recipients {{!}} California Air Resources Board|website=ww2.arb.ca.gov|access-date=2019-01-01}}
• 2018 UC San Diego Chancellor’s Associates Excellence Award in Research in Science and Engineering{{Cite web |title=Faculty Members Celebrated for Seeing the Classroom and World Differently |url=https://today.ucsd.edu/story/faculty-members-celebrated-for-seeing-the-classroom-and-world-differently |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=today.ucsd.edu |language=en}}
• 2019 Elected to the National Academy of Engineering{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://nae.edu/ |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=NAE Website}}
• 2020 ACS Frank H. Field and Joe L. Franklin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Mass Spectrometry{{Cite web |title=Past Recipients |url=https://www.acs.org/funding/awards/frank-field-joe-franklin-award-for-outstanding-achievement-in-mass-spectrometry/past-recipients.html |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=American Chemical Society |language=en}}
• 2020 Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
• 2022 Elected to the American Philosophical Society
• 2023 [https://www.nesacs.org/award/gustavus-john-esselen-award/#overview Gustavus John Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest]
• 2023 Analytical Scientist the Power list - Leaders and Advocates{{Cite web |date=2023-09-10 |title=The Power List 2023 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/power-list/2023 |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=The Analytical Scientist |language=en}}
• 2024 National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemical Sciences
• 2024 Analytical Scientist the Power List - Planet Protectors{{Cite web |date=2024-08-17 |title=The Power List 2024 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/power-list/2024 |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The Analytical Scientist |language=en}}

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