After six and a half years of dedicated effort, Ying “Cheryl” Yao, scientist at the Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute (MRRI), earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University.
Cheryl conducted research on emerging contaminants and successfully defended her dissertation, titled “Airborne Microplastics and PFAS: Distribution and Interactions in the Urban Atmosphere,” on March 24, 2026. She was officially hooded during Rutgers University’s hooding ceremony on May 20, 2026.
Her doctoral research advances understanding of the occurrence, distribution, and interactions of airborne microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in urban atmospheric environments. This work provides valuable insights into the transport, fate, and potential exposure risks of emerging contaminants, with important implications for environmental monitoring, public health, and pollution mitigation strategies.
MRRI congratulates Cheryl on this significant academic and professional achievement.
