Latest group photo: rainy day end-of-semester picnic, 05/2025

PI

Jenna Ditto, Ph.D.

Jenna Ditto, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Jenna Ditto is an assistant professor in the Department of Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering.

Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry & Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 2020-2022
Ph.D., Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, 2020
M.S., Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, 2017
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Brown University, 2015

Current graduate students

Yingxi Lu

Yingxi Lu

Ph.D. student (3rd year)

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2020

Yingxi’s research interests lie in studying indoor air quality and indoor microorganisms. Currently, she is researching the VOCs released by different microbial species on various common indoor surfaces. Outside of the lab or studying, she loves to travel, hike and spend time with friends.

Minye Zhu

Minye Zhu

Ph.D. student (1st year)

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2024

Minye specializes in indoor air quality research. Currently, she is exploring the chemistry of house dust and dust mites. Outside of her lab work, she enjoys engaging in various crafts.

Yunfei Jia

Yunfei Jia

Ph.D. student (1st year)

M.S., Civil Engineering, Tongji University, 2020

B.S., Thermodynamic Engineering, Shanghai University of Electric Power, 2015

Yunfei has a broad research interests including indoor air quality, indoor exposure and health, and computational fluid dynamics modeling. His current focus is on occupant-environment interactions, particularly as mediated by indoor chemicals. Outside of academia, Yunfei is a runner and a fan of folk music.

Kamal Kant Sahu

Kamal Kant Sahu

M.S. student

WashU-IIT Bombay Joint MS Program in Aerosol Science and Engineering, 2026

Kamal’s keen interest lies in monitoring air quality, from sample collection to data analysis. Currently, he is working on characterizing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban aerosols using thermal desorption coupled with GC-MS techniques. Beyond the lab, he enjoys playing outdoor sports with friends and exploring new cultures, places, and people.

Current undergraduate students

Kira Larner

Kira Larner

Undergraduate student

B.S. student, chemical engineering, WashU, 2027

Kira is passionate about applying her foundation in chemical engineering to address environmental issues, particularly air quality. She is currently researching microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs), developing analytical methods to measure common mVOCs in indoor environments. At WashU, Kira competes on WashU’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams and volunteers as a coach with Bear Cubs.

Anthony Vidal Reyes – WashU ’27

Please reach out if you are interested in undergraduate research! We often have 1-2 undergraduate researchers in the group as independent study students.

Current Ditto lab pets

Group alumni

Graduate students

Kinjal Kolhe – IIT Bombay ’24 (WashU-IITB Joint MS Program, Summer-Fall 2023)

Riley Benko – WashU Ph.D student rotation (Fall 2024)

Undergraduate students

Nora Montross – WashU ’27 (Spring 2025)

Siddhi Pallod – IIT Bombay ’26 (McKelvey International Student Research Internship Program, Summer 2024)

Lucas Danic – WashU ’26 (SURA recipient, Summer 2024)

Minye Zhu – WashU ’24 (Fall 2023-Spring 2024)

Pablo Kerschensteiner Soto – WashU ’26 (Spring 2024)

Dillon Colbert – WashU ’25 (Summer-Fall 2023)

Frankie Lynch – WashU ’24 (Spring-Fall 2023)

Estele Odo Toledo de Barros – JHU ’26 (Visiting undergraduate researcher, Summer 2023)

Jordyn Nydish – WashU ’25 (Spring 2023)

Max Rogler – WashU ’24 (Spring 2023)