Rebecca Mesburis is a PhD candidate in chemistry at CU Boulder studying aerosols and their impacts on indoor and outdoor air quality, human health, and climate. Mesburis is also a part of the community-engaged research design team, led by CIRES’ Becca Edwards, developing a toolkit and micro-credential program on equitable community research partnerships. She loves to spend time outside in the mountains running or backcountry skiing — and she lived in Toronto, Newfoundland, and Scotland before coming to Colorado. 

What do you work on at CIRES?

I conduct research focused on better understanding the potential to form aerosols from indoor air and daily human activities, and the impacts of aerosols on indoor and outdoor air quality, human health, and climate. Outside of my research, I've been working as part of the community-engaged research design team led by Becca Edwards to develop an open resource toolkit and micro-credential program for education on equitable community research partnerships.

What are you most passionate about professionally?

I am passionate about applying experimental rigor to better understand the atmospheric chemistry of our daily lives, transforming complex data into actionable insights for public health. In my current work, I am driven by the belief that people deserve to breathe safe and clean air — indoors and outdoors.

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

I love to spend time outside in the mountains! I'm lucky to live in Nederland, where I have incredible trail access. You can usually find me running in the mountains or, more recently, learning how to backcountry ski.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Toronto, Canada. I also spent time living in Scotland and Newfoundland before moving to Colorado to pursue a PhD!

Where will your research take you next?

I'll be travelling to Singapore to present my research at the Indoor Air 2026 conference this June!