Chun-Ying Chao is an atmospheric scientist specializing in aerosol science and air quality. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Rice University in 2025. At Rice, he discovered his enthusiasm for field campaigns, using mobile laboratories to measure air pollution in real-world environments. It is similar to the movie Twister, but instead of chasing tornadoes, he chases air pollution.

Beyond the lab, Chun-Ying served on the leadership council of Rice’s Graduate Student Ambassador program, connecting with prospective students and the Taiwanese graduate student community. His favorite place on campus is Valhalla, where he could always meet cool people. He is currently a postdoc at The University of Texas at Austin.