Alex Jarnot, PhD

Experience

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  Hood College

  Jun 2015 - May 2017

  • Tutoring general chemistry students in subjects discussed in the general chemistry curriculum.• Tutoring organic chemistry students in subjects covered in the organic chemistry curriculum.• Reinforcing basic chemistry concepts. • Designed labs to give students in-depth and hands-on experience with portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, as well as handheld Raman spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy for use in all levels of undergraduate classes.• Researched laboratory techniques involving x-ray fluorescence.

  • Chemistry Tutor

    Aug 2015 - May 2017

  • Research Intern

    Jun 2015 - Aug 2015
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  NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

  Student Airborne Research Intern

  During this internship I flew aboard the NASA DC-8 research aircraft to research the effects of pollutants on air quality in southern California by studying surface, atmospheric, and oceanographic processes. In order to do this, I participated in mission planning, instrument operation, and payload integration aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft. My research group was under the guidance of Dr. Don Blake of the Rowland-Blake Laboratory at UC Irvine, which utilizes the Whole Air Sampler to collect air samples during the flight. These samples were then taken back to UC Irvine where we analyzed them on the Rowland-Blake lab's gas chromatography system. My student research project focused on three air samples taken at Sequoia National Park, two in the Giant Forest, and one taken in the deepest room of Crystal Cave. A preliminary analysis of cave air from Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park yielded carbonyl sulfide concentrations of 35.2 ± 0.7 pptv, approximately 16 times lower than the average concentration of 568 ± 8 pptv measured outside of the cave. In addition, the concentrations of 27 other trace gases including alpha-pinene and methyl bromide were found to be abnormally low (10.5 ± 0.3 pptv inside and 387 ± 8 pptv for alpha-pinene, and 387 ± 8 pptv inside and 11.1 ± 0.4 pptv outside for methyl bromide). The cave air was found to be well-mixed as the concentrations of long lived halocarbons such as CFC-12 were similar inside and outside of the cave (545 ± 5 pptv and 538 ± 4 pptv, respectively). This indicates that there may be one or more non-traditional factors causing the cave to act a sink for several trace gas species. Further sampling and analysis of the atmosphere in the cave is required to draw any concrete conclusions about the unique environment presented here, however, the information gathered will help elucidate mechanisms for trace gas degradation, which could yield information about global trace gas budgets and their effect on global air quality. Show less

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  Airlette Manufacturing Corporation

  Aug 2016 - May 2021

  Graphic Designer

  I create logos and pamphlets for Airlette Manufacturing, and design the layout for the website.

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  UC Irvine

  Jun 2017 - Mar 2022

  PhD Candidate

  Analytical Chemistry PhD Candidate specializing in Atmospheric Chemistry

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  The Loh Down on Science

  Apr 2019 - Mar 2022

  Staff Writer

  Write and edit radio scripts for the NPR morning show The Loh Down on Science, a 90-second show that highlights new and interesting developments in science, hosted by Sandra Tsing-Loh.

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  University of Central Florida

  Jan 2022 - Dec 2023

  Postdoctoral Scholar

  Postdoctoral researcher as part of UCFs Preeminent Postdoctoral Program (P3), working full-time at NASA Kennedy Space Center with the MSolo team on lunar operations.

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  Phasic Energy

  Sept 2023 - now

  Technical Advisor
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  NASA Langley Research Center

  Dec 2023 - now

  Research Scientist

  Research scientist in the Climate Science Branch within the Science Directorate at NASA LaRC. Working in the Instrument Working Group on the CERES satellite instruments.