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Air Quality & Aerosol Science
The Air Quality and Aerosol Science Group, subgroup of the Renewable Energy Laboratory at Nazarbayev University, advances interdisciplinary research in atmospheric chemistry, airborne particulate matter chemical characterization, receptor-based source apportionment, GHG emissions, climate effects, and health exposure.
Research team
  • Dr. Gulden Ormanova
    Senior Researcher, Group leader
    Education
    PhD in Science, Engineering and Technology - Nazarbayev University
    MSc in Geoinformation Sciences -University of West Hungary
    MSc in Engineering Sciences - Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
    Bachelor of Technics and Technologies - Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

    Research Area
    Atmospheric chemistry, analytical chemistry, air quality, particle characterization, exposure and risk assessment, chemical and physical characteristics of airborne particles, climate effects

    Specialization
    PM2.5 sampling, installation, and operation of aerosol samplers, IC, ICP MS, OCEC, BC analysis, SEM, TEM, FTIR, PMF receptor modeling
  • Kyran Kassym
    Research Assistant
    Education
    Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science - Peking University

    Research Area
    Organic chemistry, atmospheric chemistry

    Specialization
    Installation and operation of aerosol samplers, HPLC, GC-MS, AAS, NMR, X-ray techniques
  • Darina Bibatyrova
    Research Assistant
    Education
    MSc in Chemical and Materials Engineering- Nazarbayev University
    BEng in Chemical Technology of Organic Substances - Kazakh-British Technical University

    Research Area
    environmental chemistry, air pollution, heterogeneous catalysis, synthesis of polymer-modified composites, physicochemical characterization of catalytic and photoactive materials

    Specialization
    SEM, TEM, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR spectroscopy; Python, BioRender, ChemDraw, COMSOL Multiphysics.
  • Yestay Bakyt
    Research Assistant
    Education
    MSc in Computing Technology and Software - Astana International University (AIU)
    Bachelor of Smart Technology - Astana IT University

    Research Area
    Design of intelligent control systems for environmental monitoring, IoT-driven real-time data acquisition and feedback loops, architecture of scalable backend systems, development of automated monitoring platforms and software-hardware interfaces.

    Specialization
    Programming in Python, C/C++, JavaScript, and SQL; backend development using Django, FastAPI, and React, proficient in LabVIEW and PLC-based systems; real-time data transmission and signal processing, management of PostgreSQL, Redis, and MySQL.
  • Alexey Alexeyev
    Senior Researcher, Epidemiologist
    Education
    PhD in Public Health - Karaganda Medical University
    MSc in Medical and Preventive Medicine - Karaganda Medical University

    Research Area
    Epidemiological analysis, public health, air pollution, man-made risks, hygienic and environmental research, and physical measurement of climatic parameters
  • Alexandra Vinnikova
    Research Assistant
    Education
    Bachelor of Biomedicine, Karagandy Medical University

    Research Area
    Occupational health, atmospheric air pollution, external factors for obstructive lung diseases, and microbiology
  • Sholpan Orazbaeva
    Research Assistant
    Education
    BSc in Public Health -Kazakh National Medical University named S.D.Asfendiyarov
    MSc in Preventive Medicine - Karaganda Medical University

    Research area
    Epidemiology, environmental research, mineral fixers, asbestos,medical ecology, environmental protection, public health
Publications
  • Ormanova, G., Hopke, P. K., Dhammapala, R., Ozturk, F., Shah, D., & Torkmahalleh, M. A. (2025). Chemical characterization and source apportionment of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) at an urban site in Astana, Kazakhstan. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 16, 102324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2024.102324
  • Ormanova, G., Karaca, F., & Kononova, N. (2020). Analysis of the impacts of atmospheric circulation patterns on the regional air quality over the geographical center of the Eurasian continent. Atmospheric Research, 237, 104858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2020.104858
  • Ormanova, G., Hopke, P. K., Darvishi Omrani, A., Zhakiyev, N., Shah, D., & Torkmahalleh, M. A. (2024). Particulate black carbon mass concentrations and the episodic source identification driven by atmospheric blocking effects in Astana, Kazakhstan. Science of the Total Environment, 939, 173581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173581
Funded projects
"Source apportionment (receptor) modeling of airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) and their chemical characterization for assessing health impacts in the industrial city of Qarağandy, Central Kazakhstan"
Project PI: Gulden Ormanova
Duration: 2025 - 2027
International Collaborators
  • Prof. Philip K. Hopke
    Bayard D. Clarkson Distinguished Professor Emeritus,
    Clarkson University
    Education Background
    Ph.D. - Princeton University
    M.A. - Princeton University
    B.S. - Trinity College
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