Tiina Reponen, PhD, professor in the Department of Environmental Health, received the David Sinclair Award Oct. 17 in recognition of her bioaerosol research. The award was presented at the 37th annual conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) in Portland, Oregon, and recognizes sustained excellence and lasting impact in aerosol research and technology by an established, active scientist.

Noting that she is respected worldwide for her pioneering studies in biological aerosols, the AAAR cited Reponen's seminal work on bioaerosol characterization that helped the development of several innovative techniques for the generation and collection of bioaerosol particles. She also applied her findings to the assessment of human exposure to airborne microorganisms, which generated crucial knowledge about specific particle characteristics linked to health effects.

The award memorializes David Sinclair, PhD, one of aerosol science's great innovators. The son of American writer Upton Sinclair, he was one of the scientists who devised an aerosol generator that created protective smokescreens supporting Allied troops during the 1944 Normandy invasion among other innovations.