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Dr. Erika von Schneidemesser joined RIFS (then IASS) in 2012, where she currently leads the RIFS research group Urban Air Quality, Mobility, and Health (AQMH). The focus of this research group is on understanding urban air pollution, including exploring and developing the measurement capabilities of small sensors, and their application in urban areas for quantifying the effects of mobility policy on air quality and changes in exposure. The research group uses a transdisciplinary approach, to strengthen connections between science and policy, collaborating with city governments and NGOs to inform decision-making and research. She is currently also on the Steering Committee of the international initiatives TOAR II and GEIA.

Erika received her PhD in Environmental Chemistry and Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA in 2009. During her PhD and post-doctoral work at the University of Leicester, UK, Erika established a strong scientific background in atmospheric measurement techniques and data analysis focusing on urban aerosol, source apportionment, trends analysis, and the role of megacities for air pollution and climate change. In 2011 she was awarded an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship to work at the U.S. National Science Foundation, where she honed her science-policy expertise.