​Huffman Research Group
Current Group Members
Front: Riley Smith, Robyn Edwards, Evelyn Gibson, Ty Kaji
Middle: Alex Huffman, Autumn Ehlers, Zoe Lynch, Alex Vokova
Back: Maxwell Freeman, Tatiana Peccedi, Samantha de la Fuente, Mia Hebinck, Sadie Morley
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June 3, 2025 (Photo credit: Kiena Campbell, @kienaphotography
J. Alex Huffman, PI
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Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Univ. Colorado at Boulder, 2008
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Adviser: Jose Jimenez; aerosol mass spectrometry & organic aerosol volatility
B.S. in Chemistry, Pepperdine Univ., 1999
​Citation metrics:
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ORCID: 0000-0002-5363-9516
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Publons A-7449-2010 (h-index: 42, i10-index: 66, total citations > 11,600)
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Google Scholar (h-index: 46, i10-index: 69, total citations > 15,700)
Selected synergistic activities & Service roles:
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Chemistry Dept: Undergrad Research Coordinator, Environ. Chem Coordinator
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NSM College & DU: Equity & Racial Justice Committee co-Chair, T&P Committee Chair, Open Access Fund Committee, Faculty Senate
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Professional: AAAR Director, IBEC Advisory Board, ACP Journal Editor, UCAR Rep
Personal Interests: Family, travel, outdoor sports (esp. running, cycling, skiing, camping, fishing), DU Pioneer & Univ. Arizona sports
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
alex.huffman (at) du.edu
Graduate Students (PhD, MS)
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Maxwell Freeman
B.S. in Physics and Chemistry, Stanford University, 2018
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Research: Raman and fluorescence spectra of aerosols & associated instrument development
ORCID: 0000-0001-8328-6873
Publication(s):
[62] Swanson et al., Aerosol Sci. & Tech., 2022
Personal Interests: tennis, fishing, and video games
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Career Goals: career focused on analysis of diverse and specialized data sets in private or government agencies.
Group Member: Dec. 2019 - present (Ph.D. student)
maxwell.freeman (at) du.edu
Aleksandra (Alex) Volkova
B.S. in Environmental Chemistry, Univ. California, San Diego, 2015
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M.S. in Chemistry, California State University, Northridge, 2019
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Research: nitration chemistry of pollen proteins; Also atmospheric cloud condensation nuclei detection
ORCID: 0000-0002-0506-8712
Personal Interests: dogs and other animals, nature, history, travel, and video games
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Career Goals: atmospheric chemistry research
Group Member: Jul. 2019 - present (Ph.D. student)
alex.volkova (at) du.edu
Samantha de la Fuente
B.S. in Chemistry, Cal Poly Tech Univ. - San Luis Obispo, 2024
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Research:
ORCID:
Publication(s):
Personal Interests:
Hometown:
Career Goals:
Group Member: Jun. 2025 - present (Ph.D. student)
samantha.delafuente (at) du.edu
Undergraduate Students (BSCh, BS, BA)
Robyn Edwards
Univ. Denver, Class of 2026
Chemistry + Comp. Sci major
Hometown: Champlin, Minnesota
Career Goals: pharmacy or research
Project: Aerosol instrumentation
Group Member: Mar. 2024 - Present
Autumn Ehlers
Univ. Denver, Class of 2028
Psychology major
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Career Goals:
Project: lab assistant
Group Member: Oct. 2024 - present
Evelyn Gibson
Univ. Denver, Class of 2026
Chemistry and Art major
Hometown: Colorado
Career Goals: To be involved with research labs in the future and find more connections between art and chemistry
Project: Pollen fluorescence
Group Member: Feb. 2024 - present
Mia Hebinck
Univ. Denver
Biochemistry major (B.S. 2024)
Healthcare Management (M.S. 2025)
Hometown: Lone Tree, CO
Career Goals: medical doctor
Project: Aerosol instrumentation
Group Member: Jun. 2025 - present
Sadie Morley
Univ. Denver, Class of 2027
Environmental Science major
Hometown: Ohio
Career Goals:
Project: currently exploring
Group Member: May. 2025 - present
Ty Kaji
Univ. Denver, Class of 2026
Biochemistry and Math majors
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Career Goals: Attend Graduate school in a related environmental or sustainable chemistry program.
Group Member: Jan. 2024 - present
Tatiana Peccedi
Univ. Denver, Class of 2026
Environmental Science major
Hometown: Telluride, CO
Career Goals: Graduate school to further explore opportunities in environmental research and education
Project: Air quality sensors
Group Member: Apr. 2025 - present
Zoe Lynch
Univ. Denver, Class of 2026
Environmental Science major
Hometown:
Career Goals:
Project: Air quality sensors
Group Member: Feb. 2024 - Present
Riley Smith
Univ. Denver, Class of 2026
Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Science majors
Hometown: Brunswick, Maine
Career Goals: To continue research in the environmental sciences and possibly become a professor
Project: Protein nitration in urban air
Group Member: Apr. 2024 - present