People

Sara Lance

Dr. Sara Lance

Research Faculty
& Director, Whiteface Mountain Field Station

Atmospheric Sciences Research Center

Dr. Sara Lance studies aerosol-cloud interactions, with expertise in the measurement of cloud condensation nuclei and cloud microphysical properties. Dr. Lance leads recent research at WFM relating to chemistry occurring within cloud droplets, with a focus on the organic fraction.

Curriculum Vitae - Updated March 2024
Christopher Lawrence

Christopher Lawrence

Doctoral Candidate

Chris began working in the Lance Lab in May 2018 and started his grad studies at UAlbany in Fall of 2018. Chris is using statistical analysis of field measurements at Whiteface Mountain combined with chemical modeling to investigate the role clouds play in the chemical processing of organic carbon and nitrogen. More information at his website.

Curriculum Vitae - Updated January 2023
Archana Tripathy

Archana Tripathy

Doctoral Candidate

Archana began her doctoral studies at UAlbany in Fall of 2020 after having obtained a Master's Degree in Atmospheric Science from Central University of Rajasthan, India with previous research focused on carbonaceous aerosols and dust. Her recent research has involved measurements of organic acids in cloud water using ion chromatography.
Adam Deitsch

Adam Deitsch

Doctoral Student

Adam began his graduate studies at UAlbany in Fall of 2021 after having obtained his undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences from Broward College in Florida. His current research focuses on micro and nanoplastic aerosols, and other emerging contaminants known as "forever chemicals" or Per- and Poly- Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). More information at his website.
Sarah Lombardo

Sarah Lombardo

Doctoral Student

Sarah started working in the Lance Lab in July 2023, prior to starting their graduate studies at UAlbany in Fall of 2023. Sarah has undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Environmental Sciences from University of Virginia, and they are interested in studying how clouds affect biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and carbon through field measurements of cloud and aerosol composition.
Janie Schwab

Janie Schwab

Adj. Research Faculty and Lab Manager

Janie has been instrumental in different projects in the Lance Lab over the years, in addition to work she does for other groups and her own funded research activities. In 2017 she helped with the CPOC pilot study and built an electrodynamic particle trap. In 2021 she led the monumental task of moving our labs to the new ETEC building.
Sarah Woods

Dr. Sarah Woods

Independent Contractor, SeaSky Analytics

Dr. Woods assisted with the instrument integration, test flights and Spring 2022 Arctic deployment for the CHACHA campaign. Now she is an Associate Scientist III at NCAR, but continues to work on the CHACHA data analysis/writeup as time allows.
Jim Schlemmer

Jim Schlemmer

Data Manager

Jim began working with us in Aug 2023 and quickly got us caught up on the data archive backlog for the long-term air quality monitoring program funded by NYSERDA, which originated under Dr. Jim Schwab. This project included a large suite of gas and aerosol measurements including CO, NO, NO2, SO2 and PM2.5 at Whiteface Mountain (summit and base sites), Pinnacle State Park and Queens College. The program continues in 2024-2025 at WFM only.
Scott McKim

Scott McKim

Science Manager at Whiteface Mountain

Scott was hired in Sep 2021 to assist with the NSYERDA long-term air quality monitoring program at Whiteface Mountain, which includes operating instruments at both the summit and base sites at WFM. Scott also works part-time for the NY State Mesonet, and helps out as needed on other science initiatives, outreach and advocacy efforts at WFM.
Paul Casson

Paul Casson

Site Operations Manager at Whiteface Mountain

Paul has been the site operations manager at WFM since 2012, which entails ensuring facilities at the summit and base of WFM are maintained, as well as supporting ongoing science initiatives and partnerships at WFM. Paul brought to this job his unique hands-on experience working for the Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation from 1994-2012, where he assisted with the long-term cloud water monitoring program at WFM.

Job Openings


Additional information and other opportunities at UAlbany.



Former Group Members
Rudra Patel

Rudra Patel

2023 Summer Student (UAlbany undergrad)

Rudra, a student majoring in Biology, helped us analyze 2022 & 2023 cloud water samples for pH and conductivity and PILS samples for anions (including select organic acids) in the lab at UAlbany.
Joseph Niehaus

Dr. Joseph Niehaus

Postdoctoral Researcher (Sep 2019 - Dec 2021)

Dr. Niehaus helped to develop the electrodynamic balance for heterogeneous chemistry studies of single particles/droplets.
Dan Orlowski

Dan Orlowski

2017 Summer Student (RPI undergrad)

Dan assisted with calibration and deployment of instrumentation to the Whiteface Mountain summit for the 2017 CPOC pilot study.
Matthew Brewer

Matthew Brewer

2017 Summer Student (UAlbany undergrad)

Matthew assisted with instrument deployment and field operations for the 2017 CPOC pilot study (including weather forecasting and radiosonde launches)
Group Photos
Lance Group Photo

Aug 2023

Paul Casson, Richard Brandt and Sarah Lombardo

Lance Group Photo

Jan 2023

Archana Tripathy, Janie Schwab, Dr. Jim Schwab, Dr. Sarah Woods, Christopher Lawrence, Dr. Sara Lance, Adam Deitsch (clockwise from lower left)

Lance Group Photo

Jun 2021

Archana Tripathy, Christopher Lawrence, Dr. Sara Lance and Dr. Joseph Niehaus

Lance Group Photo

Sep 2019

Christopher Lawrence, Dr. Sara Lance and Dr. Joseph Niehaus

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