Jason Miech '18: Working to Combat Climate Change

Jason Miech's early fascination with outer space, coupled with his outstanding academic record and determination, propelled him from Emmanuel College to a postdoctoral research position at NASA. His research contributes to a deeper understanding of the gases and pollutants that drive climate change.

After graduating from Emmanuel, Miech ’18 was accepted into the Ph.D. program at Arizona State University. There, he joined the atmospheric chemistry and air quality group led by Dr. Pierre Herckes and Dr. Matthew Fraser. Miech's research focused on local air quality issues, such as ozone precursors and dust storms, and involved extensive fieldwork and data analysis. His time at ASU included working on multiple research projects and peer-reviewed publications. "These were first-author publications, where I did the majority of the analysis and the lab work, and then wrote it up," he said.

Miech's work at NASA primarily involves airborne measurements of trace gases, including greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. One of the key projects he participated in was the ASIA-AQ (Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality) campaign, which focused on air quality in Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand. Its goal was to validate measurements from the Korean satellite instrument GEMS (Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer) that monitors various air pollutants from space.

During the ASIA-AQ campaign, Miech had the opportunity to fly on NASA's DC-8 airplane, which is equipped with instruments from NASA, international groups, and universities. The airplane flew at different altitudes to collect data on air pollutants, providing a finer resolution and more accurate measurements than those possible from satellites alone. "I was able to fly on the airplane and see the data as it came in. It was all incredibly exciting, educational, and amazing to be a part of," Miech shared.

The Emmanuel Influence

Miech was drawn to Emmanuel for its robust chemistry program, intimate learning environment, and the unique opportunities it offered, including a Division III soccer team and the Science Living Learning Community. "The Science Living Learning Community meant I was not in a random dorm, but with other students with similar classes, interests, and priorities," Miech recalled.

His enthusiasm for chemistry was heightened during his freshman year when he took an analytical chemistry course with Dr. Aren Gerdon, Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the department. The class, which involved water sampling and heavy metal analysis from the nearby Muddy River, sparked his interest in research. Participating in a Colleges of the Fenway symposium and presenting his group's findings solidified his passion for environmental sampling and fieldwork.

Throughout his time at Emmanuel, Miech immersed himself in research. He joined Dr. Gerdon's research group that focused on biomineralization and the formation of hydroxyapatite in bones and teeth. This hands-on research experience, particularly through Emmanuel’s Summer Research Program, allowed Miech to experiment with DNA aptamers and their role in enhancing mineralization. His assiduousness resulted in three-and-a-half years of research, distinction in the field, and the publication of two peer-reviewed papers.

His undergraduate research included conducting experiments as well as learning to collaborate and communicate scientific findings effectively. These skills were fine tuned through regular group meetings, literature reviews, and presentations, which mirrored the demands of graduate school and beyond. "The group meetings we had at Emmanuel were exactly what I experienced in grad school. Even here at NASA, we have weekly group meetings, and for some of those meetings, you present your work and what you've done so far. That's exactly what we did at Emmanuel," he explained.

Miech credits Emmanuel with preparing him for his advanced studies and research career. The rigorous academic environment, hands-on research opportunities, and collaborative culture at the College provided him with the skills and confidence to excel in his Ph.D. program and at NASA. He gained invaluable teaching experience in his role as a peer tutor and lab instructional assistant. He facilitated lab experiments, ran review sessions, and helped classmates with homework problems — responsibilities that allowed him to seamlessly transition to his teaching assistant role at ASU.

As he looks forward to his future, Miech remains committed to advancing research in atmospheric chemistry and air quality, whether in industry or government roles. "The whole research experience at Emmanuel really helped. I feel like it gave me an advantage, having already experienced what classmates were just being exposed to," he said.