Professor Zongbo Shi PhD

Professor Zongbo Shi

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Professor of Atmospheric Biogeochemistry

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 9128
Email
z.shi@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

The atmosphere and atmospheric processes interact with the biogeochemistry of the earth system. This in turn affects human and environmental health, air quality and climate. His group addresses three areas of research central to these impacts:

  • Sources and emissions of chemical substances to the atmosphere
  • Physical and chemical transformation of aerosol particles and their constituents in the atmosphere
  • Interaction of atmospheric chemistry with biogeochemistry of ecosystems

Their work combines field measurement, laboratory analyses, chamber simulation, and numerical modelling approaches.  Our research delivers fundamental understanding of the air pollution and biogeochemical cycling processes, providing knowledge to underpin sustainable developments.

Qualifications

  • PhD Environmental Sciences- China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing)
  • BA Geology – Anhui University of Science and Technology, China

Teaching

BSc Environmental Sciences / Geography / Earth Sciences

  • EVS229 Environmental Pollution

MSc Air Pollution Management and Control (as Programme lead)

  • Air pollution chemistry
  • Air pollution control technology and management
  • Causes and effects of air Pollutants

Postgraduate supervision

Zongbo Shi has research interests in atmospheric chemistry, machine learning, Net Zero, indoor air quality, health and mineral dust

Professor Shi welcomes enquiries from prospective doctoral researchers in the above areas.

PhD opportunities

Doctoral research

PhD title
Physicochemical properties and bioreactivities of PM10 and PM2.5 in Beijing air

Other activities

  • Fellow of High Education Academy
  • Member of Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Member of European Association of Geochemistry: 
  • Member of NERC peer review college
  • Reviewer of US Natural Science Foundation (NSF), French ANR and Czech Science Foundation
  • Reviewer of Environmental Science & Technology; Natural Geosciences; Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere; Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics; Chemosphere; Atmospheric Environment; Tellus-B; Environmental Chemistry etc.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Zhong, J, Gojamgunde, T, Hall, J, Hang, Y, Bartington, SE, Stocker, J, Bloss, WJ & Shi, Z 2026, 'Air quality and health co-benefits of bus electrification: evidence from a UK metropolitan area', Environment international, vol. 208, 110066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110066

Brean, J, Fichot, CG, Beddows, DCS, Worsnop, D, Shi, Z, Harrison, RM, Asmi, E & Dall´Osto, M 2026, 'Continental river runoff enhances atmospheric aerosol formation over the Arctic Ocean', Communications Earth and Environment, vol. 7, no. 1, 52. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02986-8

Liu, S, Lyu, X, Yang, F, Shi, Z, Huang, X, Liu, T, Wang, H, Li, M, Gao, J, Chen, N, Shi, G, Zou, Y, Pei, C, Tong, C, Liu, X, Zhou, L, Guenther, AB & Wang, N 2026, 'Deciphering isoprene variability across dozen of Chinese and overseas cities using deep transfer learning', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 635-646. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-635-2026

Wang, G, Cui, X, Xu, B, Wu, C, Zhi, M, Li, K, Xu, L, Yuan, Q, Wang, Y, Sun, Y, Shi, Z, Ito, A, Zhai, S & Li, W 2026, 'Divergent iron dissolution pathways controlled by sulfuric and nitric acids from the ground-level to the upper mixing layer', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 1483-1496. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1483-2026

Wang, Z, Srivastava, D, Alam, MS, Crilley, LR, Kramer, LJ, Rooney, DJ, Saksakulkrai, S, Khare, M, Ascough, P, Bompard, N, Gulliver, P, Shanks, R, Xu, X, Cash, JM, Di Marco, CF, Langford, B, Nemitz, E, Shivani, Gadi, R, Harrison, RM, Bloss, WJ, Shi, G & Shi, Z 2026, 'Dominant contribution of fossil fuel combustion to carbonaceous aerosol pollution in Delhi: Insights from radiocarbon and organic tracers', Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 504, 141289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141289

Qian, J, Wynn, T, Liu, B, Shan, Y, Bartington, SE, Pope, FD, Dai, Y & Shi, Z 2026, 'Enhancing Accuracy of Indoor Air Quality Sensors via Automated Machine Learning Calibration', Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 603-615. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-603-2026

Di Biagio, C, Bru, E, Orta, A, Chevaillier, S, Baldo, C, Bergé, A, Cazaunau, M, Lafon, S, Nowak, S, Pangui, E, Andreae, MO, Dagsson-Waldhauserova, P, Dintwe, K, Kandler, K, King, JS, Chaput, A, Okin, GS, Piketh, S, Saeed, T, Seibert, D, Shi, Z, Williams, E, Sellitto, P & Formenti, P 2026, 'Mid- and far-infrared spectral signatures of mineral dust from low- to high-latitude regions: significance and implications', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 1079-1091. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1079-2026

Su, Y, Dai, Y, Shi, Z, Jiang, Y, Kong, L & Pfrang, C 2026, 'Natural Ventilation Reduces Cooking-Related PM2.5 Peaks Indoors', ACS ES&T Air, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 590-599. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.5c00427

Saksakulkrai, S, Chantara, S, Kraisitnitikul, P, Srivastava, D & Shi, Z 2026, 'Unveiling the origins of Northern Thailand's haze: comprehensive chemical characterization and source apportionment of PM2.5 using targeted molecular markers', Journal of Environmental Sciences (China), vol. 159, pp. 635-648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2025.04.040

Li, W, Ito, A, Wang, G, Zhi, M, Xu, L, Yuan, Q, Zhang, J, Liu, L, Wu, F, Laskin, A, Zhang, D, Zhang, X, Zhu, T, Chen, J, Mihalopoulos, N, Bougiatioti, A, Kanakidou, M, Wang, G, Hu, H, Zhao, Y & Shi, Z 2025, 'Aqueous-phase secondary organic aerosol formation on mineral dust', National Science Review, vol. 12, no. 7, nwaf221. https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaf221

Liu, H, Yi, W, Jalkanen, JP, Luo, Z, Majamäki, E, Matthias, V, Moldanová, J, Shi, Z & He, K 2025, 'Atmospheric impacts and regulation framework of shipping emissions: achievements, challenges and frontiers', Fundamental Research, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 1073-1076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fmre.2024.02.013

Chen, X, Dai, Y, Wei, R, Du, B, Lu, C, MacKenzie, AR, Tang, N, Shi, Z & Yan, H 2025, 'Benefits of clean air for school children's vision health', PNAS nexus, vol. 4, no. 9, pgaf279. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf279

Srivastava, D, Saksakulkrai, S, Acton, WJF, Rooney, DJ, Hall, J, Hou, S, Wolstencroft, M, Bartington, S, Harrison, RM, Shi, Z & Bloss, WJ 2025, 'Comparative receptor modelling for the sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at urban sites in the UK', Atmospheric Environment, vol. 343, 120963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2024.120963

Comment/debate

Liu, K, Shi, Z, Zhang, Y & Li, D 2025, 'Don’t overlook the plastic footprint of fireworks', Nature, vol. 646, no. 8087, pp. 1060-1060. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03500-y

Review article

Zhang, G, Li, T, Sun, W, Huang, X, Wang, T, Wang, X, Ma, N, Hu, W, Tang, M, Shi, Z, Wang, X, Peng, P & Bi, X 2026, 'Molecular Evidence of Aqueous-Processed NOCs: From Mechanistic Insights to Environmental Impacts', Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, vol. 131, no. 1, e2025JD045757. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JD045757

View all publications in research portal