Professor Zongbo Shi PhD

Professor Zongbo Shi

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Professor of Atmospheric Biogeochemistry

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 9128
Email
z.shi@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

The atmosphere and atmospheric processes interact with the biogeochemistry of the earth system. This in turn affects human and environmental health, air quality and climate. My group addresses three areas of research central to these impacts:

  • Sources and emissions of chemical substances to the atmosphere
  • Physical and chemical transformation of aerosol particles and their constituents in the atmosphere
  • Interaction of atmospheric chemistry with biogeochemistry of ecosystems

Our work combines field measurement, laboratory analyses, chamber simulation, and numerical modelling approaches.  Our research delivers fundamental understanding of the air pollution and biogeochemical cycling processes, providing knowledge to underpin sustainable developments.

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Qualifications

  • PhD Environmental Sciences- China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing)
  • BA Geology – Anhui University of Science and Technology, China

Teaching

BSc Environmental Sciences / Geography / Earth Sciences

  • EVS229 Environmental Pollution

MSc Air Pollution Management and Control (as Programme lead)

  • Air pollution chemistry
  • Air pollution control technology and management
  • Causes and effects of air Pollutants

Postgraduate supervision

Zongbo Shi has research interests in atmospheric chemistry, machine learning, Net Zero, indoor air quality, health and mineral dust

Professor Shi welcomes enquiries from prospective doctoral researchers in the above areas.

PhD opportunities

Doctoral research

PhD title
Physicochemical properties and bioreactivities of PM10 and PM2.5 in Beijing air

Other activities

  • Fellow of High Education Academy
  • Member of Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Member of European Association of Geochemistry: 
  • Member of NERC peer review college
  • Reviewer of US Natural Science Foundation (NSF), French ANR and Czech Science Foundation
  • Reviewer of Environmental Science & Technology; Natural Geosciences; Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere; Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics; Chemosphere; Atmospheric Environment; Tellus-B; Environmental Chemistry etc.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Srivastava, D, Saksakulkrai, S, Acton, WJF, Rooney, DJ, Hall, J, Hou, S, Wolstencroft, M, Bartington, S, Harrison, RM, Shi, Z & Bloss, WJ 2025, 'Comparative receptor modelling for the sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at urban sites in the UK', Atmospheric Environment, vol. 343, 120963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2024.120963

Liu, X, Zhang, X, Dufresne, M, Wang, T, Wu, L, Lara, R, Seco, R, Monge, M, Yáñez-Serrano, AM, Gohy, M, Petit, P, Chevalier, A, Vagnot, MP, Fortier, Y, Baudic, A, Ghersi, V, Gille, G, Lanzi, L, Gros, V, Simon, L, Héllen, H, Reimann, S, Le Bras, Z, Müller, MJ, Beddows, D, Hou, S, Shi, Z, Harrison, RM, Bloss, W, Dernie, J, Sauvage, S, Hopke, PK, Duan, X, An, T, Lewis, AC, Hopkins, JR, Liakakou, E, Mihalopoulos, N, Zhang, X, Alastuey, A, Querol, X & Salameh, T 2025, 'Measurement report: Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and their environmental health implications', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 625-638. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025

Kourmouli, A, Hamilton, RL, Pihlblad, J, Bartlett, R, MacKenzie, AR, Hartley, IP, Ullah, S & Shi, Z 2025, 'Rapid Increase in Soil Respiration and Reduction in Soil Nitrate Availability Following CO2 Enrichment in a Mature Oak Forest', ACS Omega, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1624-1634. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c09495

Pandamkulangara Kizhakkethil, J, Shi, Z, Bogush, A & Kourtchev, I 2024, 'Aerosolisation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during aeration of contaminated aqueous solutions', Atmospheric Environment, vol. 334, 120716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2024.120716

Dai, Y, Liu, B, Tong, C & Shi, Z 2024, 'Aqpet — An R package for air quality policy evaluation', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 177, 106052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106052

Liu, H, Yi, W, Jalkanen, J-P, Luo, Z, Majamäki, E, Matthias, V, Moldanová, J, Shi, Z & He, K 2024, 'Atmospheric impacts and regulation framework of shipping emissions: achievements, challenges and frontiers', Fundamental Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fmre.2024.02.013

Chen, C, Liang, Y, Chen, Z, Zou, C & Shi, Z 2024, 'Black Carbon in Climate Studies: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Topics', Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 20, 8945. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208945

Kraisitnitikul, P, Thepnuan, D, Chansuebsri, S, Yabueng, N, Wiriya, W, Saksakulkrai, S, Shi, Z & Chantara, S 2024, 'Contrasting compositions of PM2.5 in Northern Thailand during La Niña (2017) and El Niño (2019) years', Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 135, pp. 585-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2022.09.026

Wu, L, Zhang, Y, Xiao, Y, Zhu, J, Shi, Z, Wang, Y, Xu, H, Hu, W, Deng, J, Tang, M & Fu, P 2024, 'Diversity of ammonia sources in Tianjin: nitrogen isotope analyses and simulations of aerosol ammonium', Environmental Chemistry, vol. 21, no. 6, EN24030. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN24030

Wu, L, Wang, P, Zhang, Q, Ren, H, Shi, Z, Hu, W, Chen, J, Xie, Q, Li, L, Yue, S, Wei, L, Song, L, Zhang, Y, Wang, Z, Chen, S, Wei, W, Wang, X, Zhang, Y, Kong, S, Ge, B, Yang, T, Fang, Y, Ren, L, Deng, J, Sun, Y, Wang, Z, Zhang, H, Hu, J, Liu, CQ, Harrison, RM, Ying, Q & Fu, P 2024, 'Dominant contribution of combustion-related ammonium during haze pollution in Beijing', Science Bulletin, vol. 69, no. 7, pp. 978-987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2024.01.002

Foskinis, R, Motos, G, Gini, MI, Zografou, O, Gao, K, Vratolis, S, Granakis, K, Vakkari, V, Violaki, K, Aktypis, A, Kaltsonoudis, C, Shi, Z, Komppula, M, Pandis, SN, Eleftheriadis, K, Papayannis, A & Nenes, A 2024, 'Drivers of droplet formation in east Mediterranean orographic clouds', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 24, no. 17, pp. 9827-9842. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9827-2024

Norby, RJ, Loader, NJ, Mayoral, C, Ullah, S, Curioni, G, Smith, A, Reay, M, Van Wijngaarden, K, Amjad, M, Brettle, D, Crockatt, M, McGarry, L, Hart, K, Hartley, I, Jones, AG, Kourmouli, A, Larsen, J, Shi, Z, Thomas, R & MacKenzie, AR 2024, 'Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2', Nature Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3

Other report

Luiu, C, Day, R, Reardon, L, Cavoski, A, Singh, A, Leach, FCP, Nasar, Z, Pfrang, C, Shi, Z & Bartington, S 2025, Reducing health risks of gas cooking. University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/pure.bham.258583195

Preprint

Liu, X, Zhang, X, Dufresne, M, Wang, T, Wu, L, Lara, R, Seco, R, Monge, M, Yáñez-Serrano, AM, Gohy, M, Petit, P, Chevalier, A, Vagnot, M-P, Fortier, Y, Baudic, A, Ghersi, V, Gille, G, Lanzi, L, Gros, V, Simon, L, Hellen, H, Reimann, S, Bras, ZL, Müller, MJ, Beddows, D, Hou, S, Shi, Z, Harrison, RM, Bloss, W, Dernie, J, Sauvage, S, Hopke, PK, Duan, X, An, T, Lewis, A, Hopkins, J, Liakakou, E, Mihalopoulos, N, Zhang, X, Alastuey, A, Querol, X & Salameh, T 2024 'Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and its environmental health implications' EGUsphere. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2309

Review article

Zhang, G, Peng, X, Sun, W, Fu, Y, Yang, Y, Liu, D, Shi, Z, Tang, M, Wang, X & Bi, X 2024, 'Fog/cloud processing of atmospheric aerosols from a single particle perspective: a review of field observations', Atmospheric Environment, vol. 329, 120536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2024.120536

View all publications in research portal