Cristina Davis
College of Engineering
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Federal and State Funded Research Advances Wildfire Health Monitoring
Cristina Davis is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering whose work combines chemistry, mechanical design and environmental monitoring. Her research focuses on understanding air quality, especially during wildfires. She is developing wearable sensors that detect harmful chemical exposures in smoke. These devices can alert people in real time — helping vulnerable groups, like veterans with prior burn pit exposure, take action to protect their health.
Helping Humanity
Davis’ research helps uncover the full range of chemicals released during wildfires, many of which are not well understood but may pose serious health risks. By identifying these exposures, her work improves scientific understanding of how air pollution affects the body in both the short and long term. The wearable technology also empowers individuals to monitor and reduce their exposure to dangerous air pollutants.
"Funding allows us to pay our graduate students to do this groundbreaking research. It also sets the stage for the next generation of scientists and engineers that are going to be developing new programs 10 years from now.”
—Cristina Davis