University of New Haven
IN-25: Innovation B

2. University of New Haven chemistry professor Chong Qiu, Ph.D., has been awarded a five-year, almost $700,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Early Career Award for his groundbreaking research on aerosols – tiny particles suspended in the air – in the atmosphere. Dr. Qiu is the first University of New Haven professor to receive this prestigious honor. The goal of the NSF’s Early Career Award is to support junior STEM faculty members in their “important and unique research challenges that make our country’s future healthier, safer, and more prosperous.” This coveted award is presented to only the best faculty at the best universities. Dr. Qiu joins professors from Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, and NYU this year in earning this recognition. Dr. Qiu will use the funding to advance his research that has the potential to shape understanding of the impact of air quality on climate change, weather forecasting, and human health. For the past two years, Dr. Qiu has worked with undergraduate and graduate students on this research. He will also create a summer academy for high school students in the region and develop a K-12 STEM pipeline that enables students at all levels to participate in his research. This award is a significant achievement for Dr. Qiu that will bring broad attention to his research.