BREATHING EASIER — an area that experiences wildfire smoke almost every year. Her lab installs air quality sensors in classrooms, trains undergraduate students to maintain them, and collects data to help schools make informed decisions about ventilation and filtration. But the work doesn’t stop at data collection. Salimifard is also developing toolkits and guidelines for school administrators, building managers, and the school community. These resources help communities understand how to adjust HVAC systems and building operations to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants. “We want to help people protect themselves against wildfire smoke,” she said. Salimifard’s vision is clear: buildings that are energy efficient, health, and resilient. “We want buildings that don’t have to shut down when the next crisis hits,” she said. “Whether it’s wildfire smoke, a pandemic, or another airborne threat, our goal is to keep schools and other critical buildings open and safe.” That mission is deeply personal. Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Salimifard notes the toll that school closures took on students and families. MAKING INDOOR AIR SAFER FOR EVERYONE When wildfire smoke blankets the skies of southern Oregon, many families close their windows and hope for the best. But for Oregon State University’s Parichehr Salimifard, assistant professor of architectural engineering, hope isn’t enough. She’s working to ensure that the air inside our schools and homes remains safe — no matter what’s happening outside. Salimifard, who is also the Culbertson Faculty Scholar, leads a research program focused on indoor air quality and building resilience. Her work is especially timely as communities across the western United States face longer wildfire seasons and increasing air pollution. “Our current focus is on how we can protect building occupants’ health against wildfire smoke and mitigate the exposure to particulate matter,” Salimifard said. With support from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings Grant Program, Salimifard and her team are studying air quality in K–12 schools and childcare centers in southern Oregon WINTER 2026 OREGON STATE ENGINEERING 4
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