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NERL Scientist Earns Early Career Distinction Award
Posted: November 26, 2008
Rutgers University will honor Carlton
In October 2006, Annmarie Carlton earned her doctorate in Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences. Less than three years later, Carlton received the Early Career Rutgers University Distinguished Alumni Award at a special awards ceremony at the university on March 9, 2009. The University bestowed this special honor on Carlton to acknowledge her many contributions to atmospheric science since her graduation - specifically in the field of secondary organic aerosol modeling.
Dr. Barbara Turpin, associate professor in Rutgers' Department of Environmental Sciences and Carlton's doctoral advisor, said, "Annmarie's thoughts are in demand these days. It is quite remarkable how quickly she has become known as one who can provide insights important to a range of health/environmental/climate issues, from an organic aerosol modeling perspective."
Rutgers University Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented annually by the Graduate School to individuals who have made significant contributions in the Biological Sciences, Humanities, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Engineering, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. During the ceremony, awards are presented for Lifetime Achievement and Early Career Distinction.
The Rutgers recognition comes on the heels of other accolades. Carlton appeared on the international scene in 2007 (Finland) and 2008 (Sweden) when she became one of ten scientists from the United States who participated with ten Nordic-based scientists in collaboration conferences, arranged and sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Nordic Center for Excellence. The conferences were designed to bring early-career atmospheric scientists together to begin building relationships, discussing their research, and developing long-term collaborations focused on the role of modeling atmospheric interactions at the global scale. The team's suggested solutions were published by the American Geophysical Union.
Carlton, who is a physical scientist in the EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory, began building her early professional reputation and demonstrating her passion for science at the 2006 Gordon Research Conference. There, Carlton's colleagues conceived and presented her with the first of her "emerging scientist" awards based on her presentation of research which focused on naturally-occurring emissions (biogenic research) from trees and other plants and their impact on the atmosphere.
In November 2008, Carlton, along with co-authors, published a scientific paper online in Environmental Science & Technology, titled CMAQ Model Performance Enhanced When In-Cloud Secondary Aerosol is Included: Comparisons of Organic Carbon Predictions with Measurements. The research detailed how adding organic cloud chemistry predictions to EPA's Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model improved the model's ability to predict organic carbon levels in the atmosphere. Organic carbon in the atmosphere contributes to long-range pollution transport and influences atmospheric radiation levels, air quality and climate. The journal is expected to publish the paper in hard-copy in late 2008 or early 2009.
When her head is not in the clouds, Carlton's body is on the move supporting many down-to-earth causes important to her. All the running, swimming, and cycling with family and friends keep her energized and focused ever skyward.
To learn more about Carlton and access a list of selected publications visit: http://www.epa.gov/asmdnerl/Staff/carlton.html