The Jerome M. Paros Scholarship in Geophysical Instrumentation supports graduate students with a demonstrated interest in geophysical instrumentation and precise field measurements in seismology, atmospheric sciences, or ocean sciences. Three students are selected each year to help build a solid pool of talent working on geophysical instrumentation.  This year's award winner, Vlad Sevostianov, has developed a method for continuous measuring of nitrous oxide gas emissions in agricultural fields. The system consists of an optical mid-infrared "web" that is cast over the field using 2 rotating towers with lasers and low cost plastic retroreflectors arranged on the field perimeter. The optical towers use a form of absorption spectroscopy to measure the concentration of the gas. A tomographic image of the field is then generated, pinpointing and quantifying emission sources. Vlad is a 4th year PhD student in Prof. Mark Zondlo's group and the work was supported by an ARPA-E grant from the Department of Energy. 

Congratulations to Vlad and this amazing accomplishment!