Dr. Tara Kahan (she/her) PhD

Dr. Kahan is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Environmental Analytical Chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on understanding chemistry in “messy” atmospheric matrices such as aerosols, ice, and indoor air. Major research areas include:

• Reactivity at ice surfaces
• Reactivity and fate of pollutants in natural waters and aerosols
• Chemistry at urban surfaces (“Urban Grime”)
• Indoor chemistry

Chemical reactions in these complex and poorly understood matrices can have important implications for the environment, atmosphere, and global health. Dr. Kahan determines quantitative relationships between matrix composition and reactivity to improve environmental chemical fate predictions.

Dr. Kahan’s work extends beyond the lab. She has co-created several conferences and workshops to promote training, professional development, and networking for post-graduates, and has advocated for equity, diversity and inclusion within the university and atmospheric sciences.

Dr. Kahan obtained a B.Sc. from the University of Regina and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto working with Dr. D. J. Donaldson, and post-doctoral fellowships with Dr. John Hemminger (University of California Irvine) and Dr. Veronica Vaida (University of Colorado Boulder). After 6 years at Syracuse University, Dr. Kahan joined the University of Saskatchewan.

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Science of Solar Radiation and Photochemistry in Homes - Ep 212 of Home Diagnosis TV Series

Let’s Clear the Air – Reducing Air Pollution for Brain Health 

• 2023 -          University of Saskatchewan: Professor (Chemistry)
• 2018 - 2023 University of Saskatchewan: Associate Professor (Chemistry)
• 2018 -          Syracuse University: Research Assistant Professor (Chemistry)
• 2012 - 2018 Syracuse University: Assistant Professor (Chemistry)
• 2011 - 2012 University of Colorado Boulder: Postdoctoral Fellow (Chemistry)
• 2010 - 2011 University of California Irvine: Postdoctoral Fellow (Chemistry)
• 2005 - 2010 University of Toronto: PhD Chemistry (Environmental)
• 2000 - 2004 University of Regina: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry)

• 2023   Chemical Society of Canada Environmental Division Early Career Researcher Award
• 2021   University of Saskatchewan College of Arts and Sciences New Scientist Research Award
• 2020   Publication (Young, C. J.; Zhou, S.^#; Siegel, J. A.; Kahan, T. F. 2019 Environ. Sci.-Proc. Impacts) nominated for Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts outstanding paper award
• 2020   Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts Excellent Reviewer Award
• 2019   Canada Research Chair in Environmental Analytical Chemistry
• 2018   Meredith Teaching Recognition Award (Syracuse University)
• 2011   Participant in Atmospheric Chemistry Colloquium for Emerging Senior Scientists (ACCESS)
• 2011   NIST Boulder Laboratories Postdoctoral Poster Symposium Best Presentation
• 2010   University of California Irvine Institute of Surface and Interface Science Best Poster Award
• 2010   NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship
• 2008   University of Toronto Centre for Global Change Sciences Graduate Research Award
• 2007   University of Toronto Environmental Chemistry Colloquium Best Student Presentation
• 2007   NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral
• 2006   NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship Doctoral
• 2002   National Research Council of Canada Scholarship for Women in Engineering and Science