University of Gothenburg
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  4. Cheng Wu

Cheng Wu

Researcher

Department of Chemistry & Molecular Biology
Mail
cheng.wu@gu.se
Visiting address
Medicinaregatan 7 B
41390 Göteborg
Postal address
Box 462
40530 Göteborg

About Cheng Wu

Research

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are from a wide range of biogenic and anthropogenic sources. Their oxidation products play an important role in the formation of low-level ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), thus having a big impact on air quality and Earth's radiative budget.

My research interests lie in the atmospheric fate of volatile organic compounds and their impacts on air quality and climate change, with a special interest in development and use of advanced sampling and detection techniques and data-driven analytical approaches.

My current research projects range from chamber studies to field campaign measurements. These projects use advanced mass spectrometric techniques (e.g. a chemical ionization mass spectrometer with filter inlet for gases and aerosols (FIGAERO-CIMS), and VOCUS PTR-TOF), novel sampling setups (e.g. a drone-based monitoring and sampling platform), and ancillary instrumentation for the characterization of organic compounds in the gas and particle phase in different environments. The goal is to trace emission sources and unravel the complex physicochemical processes governing VOC transformation.

My group currently has an open PhD position: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=7&lang=UK&validator=9b89bead79bb7258ad55c8d75228e5b7&job_id=36985. I also welcome discussions about potential thesis projects related to our ongoing research activities.

Ongoing projects (as Principal Investigator)

  • AeroFireTrack: A Drone & Mass Spectrometer Platform for Fire Smoke Assessment (FORMAS Call for Research-Driven Solutions for a Sustainable Society, 2025–2026)
  • Atmospheric Oxidation of Emissions from the Boreal Forest in a Complex and Nonlinear World (Swedish Research Council, 2025–2028)
  • Nocturnal Formation and Evolution of Organic Nitrates and Their Night-to-Day Transition in Urban and Rural Areas (FORMAS Early-Career Researchers Grant, 2023–2026)

Teaching

  • Atmospheric Chemistry 15 hp
  • Energy and Environment 15 hp

Supervision

PhD students

  • Leo Håkansson, University of Gothenburg (Main supervisor, 2023 –)
  • Yazareth Peña, Lund University (Co-supervisor, 2025 – )
  • Prashant Tripathi, Stockholm University (Co-supervisor, 2025 – )
  • Veronica Geretti, University of Gothenburg (Co-supervisor, 2022 – )
  • Linjie Li – Thesis: Atmospheric Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds and Its Contribution to Aerosol Formation (Co-supervisor, defended September 2024)

Postdoctoral Researchers

  • Felix Sari Doré, University of Gothenburg (Co-supervisor, 2024 – )
  • Yiwei Gong, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland (Co-supervisor, 2024 – )