Aparajeo Chattopadhyay
Position/What you do at U of R?
I am a Scientist at the Ice Core and Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory. As a research faculty, my primary responsibility is to perform research project work, oversee general lab operations as well as mentoring/training new lab members. My current research is focused on understanding trends and budget of atmospheric methane, the second most important greenhouse gas and a prime target for fast mitigation of Earth’s warming. I work with Professor Vasilii Petrenko and Professor Lee Murray.
Where are you from?
I am from India. I was born in Andul, a town near Kolkata, the biggest city in eastern India.
What got you interested in Earth and Environmental Sciences?
I have a chemistry background and in the broad area of Earth and Environmental Sciences, my specific expertise is in atmospheric chemistry. During my early days in PhD, I was motivated by research works and lectures of top atmospheric scientists like Mario Molina (Nobel laureate, Chemistry, 1995) and A. R. Ravishankara (Former Director of NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, where I was a Research Scientist until the last year), particularly on stratospheric ozone layer depletion caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and related chemicals. It is fascinating how a scientific discovery led to an international agreement that saved our planet from a major disaster. Atmospheric chemistry is a highly interdisciplinary research field, and its societal relevance is extremely appealing. I thought I could also contribute to atmospheric chemistry research using my knowledge of Physical Chemistry. And that is how it started.
What do you enjoy most about U of R?
I like the flexibility and freedom in work at U of R. Interactions with students are also very enjoyable to me.
What is your favorite book?
Feluda Samagra by Satyajit Ray, an Indian author. Satyajit Ray is best known as a Bengali film director who also won the Academy Award. However, I like his literary creations the most.
What is your favorite thing to do in Rochester, NY?
I like exploring Finger Lakes as well as Ontario Lake beaches.