Ling Jin

What inspired you to work at Berkeley Lab? What excites you about your work?

I was initially drawn to Berkeley Lab over 20 years ago, starting as a graduate research assistant on a modeling project led by Dr. Nancy J. Brown and Professor Robert A. Harley for the Central California Ozone Study. Unlike the Bay Area's consistently ventilated air, the San Joaquin Valley faced persistent ozone pollution challenges due to diverse pollutant sources both locally and from upwind regions. Berkeley Lab provided a platform for me to collaborate with top talent in chemical transport modeling during the project. The research findings ultimately culminated in my Ph.D. dissertation and reshaped the modeling protocols employed by the regulatory agency for ozone control. This experience ignited my enduring journey at the Lab. 

Berkeley Lab has become a second home to me, a place I have grown both personally and professionally. My whole career has been profoundly shaped by the numerous researchers and projects I’ve had the privilege to engage with. I'm still humbled and inspired by the opportunity to work alongside world-class researchers every day, contributing to impactful solutions that inform and influence policy decisions to maximize environmental benefits and equity.

What does your current scientific project or research entail?

I am trained in air quality engineering, statistics, and resources economics. My air quality-related work at the Lab has been primarily focused on developing diagnostic and sensitivity analysis tools along with multi-scale photochemical transport models to identify effective pollution control strategies. I also leverage my training in statistics and economics to generate insights and develop simulation tools for travel demand forecasts. I have led projects funded by California’s Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, and Department of Energy to inform environmental policy and decision-making with a recent focus on environmental justice. At the federal level, I served on the Science Advisory Board of BenMAP and Benefits Methods Panel for the U.S. EPA by providing guidance on their health and social cost assessment methods.

What have you been most proud of in your work?

I enjoy building new tools from the ground up to tackle unique research needs. It's particularly gratifying when these tools are embraced by research communities and policymakers. A recent accomplishment that stands out is the development and release of Automobile and Technology Lifecycle-Based Assignment (ATLAS), a comprehensive vehicle transaction (i.e., addition, replacement of vehicles in a household) and technology adoption microsimulator. Unlike existing models that are either static or aggregated, ATLAS operates at the individual household level, dynamically following sequential and circumstantial vehicle transaction processes. This fine-grained approach critically enables distributional analysis regarding the fleet turnover among heterogeneous populations and sheds light on the equity implications of policy and technology interventions. In particular, ATLAS modeling includes used vehicle transactions, a crucial aspect for understanding adoption behaviors among lower-income households. Initially funded by DOE's vehicle technology office focusing on the San Francisco Bay Area, this work has gained recognition from state regulators such as the California Air Resources Board, which has led to funding to extend the work from the Bay Area to the entire state of California.

Do you have tips you'd recommend for someone looking to enter and/or succeed in your field of work?

It’s important to get early exposure to hands-on projects to gain research experience in the field of your interests. Never be afraid to leave your comfort zone – jump out of that zone and seek every opportunity to learn something new while expanding your network. Keep an open mind and don’t be frustrated when your career path meanders. As Steve Jobs has said: “The dots will somehow connect in your future.”

How can our community engage more women, girls, and other underrepresented groups in STEM?

Seeing is believing. My Ph.D. advisor Dr. Nancy J Brown has always been my role model. She is a world-class scientist and engineer in the coolest fields of atmospheric science, chemical kinetics, aerosol science, and high-performance computing, just to name a few. Working with her closely during my graduate study has inspired me to become an environmental engineer. We need more outreach to provide such role models to engage more women, girls, and other under-represented groups in STEM.

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