In 1990 Grassian joined the faculty of the
University of Iowa, where she earned a
General Electric Foundation Faculty Fellowship. There are several particles in the Earth's atmosphere, mostly consisting of mineral dust and sea spray, and their surfaces have the ability to influence the Earth's climate. Grassian has become one of the world's leading scientists studying the environmental reactions on oxide and carbonate surfaces. Aerosols can be generated in volcanoes, wildfires, coal-fired power plants and vehicles. Grassian was appointed full professor and won the Distinguished Achievement Award in 2002. She was named the F. Wendell Miller Chair in Chemistry and Director Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute in 2010. She was appointed co-director of the
National Science Foundation Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE). She also served as an editor of
Surface Science Reports. She won the
University of Iowa Scholar of the Year Award in 2014. She mentored over 300 students in her laboratory. She became a Chartered Chemist in 2015. where she leads the Grassian Research Group. Her research group focuses on the chemistry and impacts of environmental interfaces including atmospheric aerosols (mineral dust, sea spray), aqueous microdroplets, nanomaterials and indoor surfaces. Her team researches the chemistry of indoor surfaces, including the interactions of indoor gases with components of paints (titanium dioxide), glass, concrete, and drywall. Grassian collaborates with scientists at the Scripps Hydraulics Lab to study particles generated in sea spray. By researching the properties of sea spray aerosol, such as
hygroscopicity and chemical reactivity, Grassian looks to develop an understanding of our atmosphere that will help improve current climate models. In 2017 she helped identify that the bubbles that appear on the surface of breaking waves forms particulate matter that depends on molecules secreted by
phytoplankton and floor dwelling bacteria for its overall composition. She gave a
TEDTalk ''What's Really in the Air We Breathe'' at TEDxSan Diego in 2018.
Awards • 2025 ACS PHYS Division - Marsha I. Lester Award for Exemplary Impact in Physical Chemistry • 2024 Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award • 2023
American Chemical Society Geochemistry Division Medal • 2021
American Chemical Society National Award in Surface Chemistry • 2021
National Science Foundation Distinguished Lecturer in Mathematical and Physical Sciences • 2020 Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization Award • 2020
American Academy of Arts and Sciences Elected Member • 2020
Iota Sigma Pi Honorary Member Award • 2019
IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Award • 2019
William H. Nichols Medal • 2018
American Institute of Chemists Chemical Pioneer Award • 2018
American Chemical Society Committee on Environmental Improvement Award for Incorporation of Sustainability into Chemistry Education • 2014
Royal Society of Chemistry John Jeyes Award • 2014
American Chemical Society Midwest Award • 2012
American Chemical Society Creative Advanced in Environmental Science and Technology == References ==