Dr. Gregor Kos

Education

• Postdoctoral studies (2003-2007), McGill University, Montreal, QC (Prof. Parisa Ariya)
• PhD (2003), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria (Prof. Rudolf Krska)
• Visiting scientist (2001), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID (Prof. Peter Griffiths)
• MSc (2000), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria (Prof. Gernot Friedbacher)
• MSc research (1999-2000), University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK (Prof. Paul Worsfold)

Research Interests

I am an environmental analytical scientist with a strong background in statistical treatment of data. I have significant field experience in developing and deploying analytical instrumentation in the High Arctic and low cost instrumentation in urban environments.

My current research at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada focuses on long-term observations of urban pollutants in Montreal and major Canadian cities. I am interested in statistical analysis of medium sized data sets, including multivariate data analysis of partially dichotomous data and interpreting measurement data for the application and validation of atmospheric chemistry models. My main statistical tools for data analysis are python and R.

I develop field deployable sensors to track urban air pollution, with a focus on critical air pollutants and organics. The goal is to determine local pollution sources and transport and accurately measure actual exposure levels in real-time. I am part of the Decolonizing Light project that develops and deploys a community-science low-cost sensor air quality monitoring network in collaboration with the community of Kahnawake.

Peer reviewed publications

1. A. Imfeld, A. Ouellet, P. Douglas, G. Kos, Y. Gélinas, Molecular and stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ2H) of sedimentary n-alkanes in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf, Quebec, Canada: Importance of even numbered n-alkanes in coastal systems, Organic Geochemistry 164, 104367 (2022), doi: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2022.104367

2. A. Dastoor, A. Ryjkov, G. Kos, J. Zhang, J. Kirk, Parsons M, and A. Steffen, Impact of Athabasca oil sands operations on mercury levels in air and deposition, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 21, 12783–12807 (2021), doi: 10.5194/acp-21-12783-2021

3. E. Manny, S. La Vieille, S. A. Dominguez, G. Kos, V. Barrere, J. Theolier, J. Touma, S. B. Godefroy, Probabilistic risk assessment for milk in dark chocolate, cookies and other baked goods with PAL sold in Canada, Food and Chemical Toxicology 152, 112196, (2021), doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112196

4. M. Eskola, G. Kos, C. T. Elliott, J. Hajslova, S. Mayar, R. Krska, Worldwide contamination of food-crops with mycotoxins: validity of the decades old FAO estimate of 25% today, Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, (2019), doi: 10.1080/10408398.2019.1658570

5. T. Öner, P. Thiam, G. Kos, R. Krska, F. Schwenker, B. Mizaikoff, Machine learning algorithms for the automated classification of contaminated maize at regulatory limits via infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, World Mycotoxin Journal, 12 (2019), 113-122, doi: 10.3920/WMJ2018.2333

6. M. Sieger, G. Kos, M. Sulyok, M. Godejohann, R. Krska, B. Mizaikoff, MYCOSPEC: Harnessing Infrared Laser Spectroscopy for On-site Mycotoxin Analysis, Scientific Reports, 7 (2017), 44028, doi: 10.1038/srep44028

7. P. Kovalsky, G. Kos, K. Nährer, C. Schwab, T. Jenkins, G. Schatzmayr, M. Sulyok, R. Krska, Co-occurrence of Regulated, Masked and Emerging Mycotoxins and Secondary Metabolites in Finished Feed and Maize – an Extensive Survey, Toxins (2016), 363, doi: 10.3390/toxins8120363

8. G. Kos, M. Sieger, D. McMullin, C. Zahradnik, T. Öner, B. Mizaikoff, R. Krska, A Novel Chemometric Classification for FTIR Spectra of Mycotoxin-contaminated Maize and Peanuts at Regulatory Limits, Food Additives and Contaminants, Part A 33 (2016), 1596-1607, doi: 10.1080/19440049.2016.1217567

9. Y. Nazarenko, R.B. Rangel-Alvarado, G. Kos, U. Kurien, P.A. Ariya, Novel Aerosol Analysis Approach for Characterization of Nanoparticulate Matter in Snow, Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2016), in press

10. G. Kos, Y.-F. Li, D. Niemi, M. King, S.A. Smyth, C. Zdanowicz, J. Zheng, Releases of Mercury into Air and Water from Anthropogenic Activities in North America, in A. Steffen (ed.), Canadian Mercury Science Assessment (2016), isbn: 978-0-660-03315-0

11. P.A. Ariya, M. Amyot, A. Dastoor, D.A. Deeds, M. Subir, A. Feinberg, G. Kos, A. Poulain, A. Ryjkov, K. Semeniuk, K. Toyota, Mercury Physicochemical and Biogeochemical Transformation in the Atmosphere and at Atmospheric Interfaces: A Review, Chemical Reviews 115 (2015) 3760-3802, doi: 10.1021/cr500667e

12. G. Kos, V. Kanthasamy, N. Adechina, P.A. Ariya, Volatile organic compounds in Arctic snow: Concentrations and implications for atmospheric processes, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 16 (2014) 2592-2603, doi: 10.1039/C4EM00410H

13. P.A. Ariya, G. Kos, R. Mortazavi, E.D. Hudson, V. Kanthasamy, N. Eltouny, J. Sun and C. Wilde, Bio-Organic Materials in the Atmosphere and Snow: Measurement and Characterization, in V.F. McNeill, P.A. Ariya (eds.), Atmospheric and Aerosol Chemistry, ISBN 978-3-642-41214-1, Springer, NY (2013). doi:10.1007/128_2013_461

14. G. Kos, A. Ryzhkov, A. Dastoor, J. Narayan, A. Steffen, P. A. Ariya, L. Zhang,Evaluation of Discrepancy between Measured and Modeled Oxidized Mercury Species,Atmospheric Chemistry & Physics 13 (2013) 4839-4863, doi:10.5194/acp-13-4839-2013.

15. D. Voisin, J.-L. Jaffrezo, S. Houdier, M. Barret, J. Cozic, M. King, J. France, H. Reay, A. Grannas , G. Kos , P. A. Ariya , H. Beine , F. Domine, Carbonaceous Species and HUmic LIke Substances (HULIS) in Arctic Snowpack During OASIS Field Campaign in Barrow, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 117 (2012) D00R19, doi:10.1029/2011JD016612.

16. P. A. Ariya, F. Domine, G. Kos, M. Amyot, V. Cote, H. Vali, T. Lauzier, L. Legagneux, W. F. Kuhs, K. Techmer, T. Heinrichs, R. Mortazavi, J. Bottenheim, Snow: A Photo-Bio-Chemical Exchange Platform with the Atmosphere, Environmental Chemistry8 (2011) 62-73,  doi:10.1071/EN10056.

17. G. Kos, P. A. Ariya, Volatile Organic Compounds in Snow from Mont Saint Hilaire and the Tremblant Areas in South-Western Quebec, Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres 115 (2010) D01302,  doi:10.1029/2009JD012391.

18. P. A. Ariya, J. Sun, N. A. Eltouny, E. D. Hudson, C. T. Hayes and G. Kos, Physical and Chemical Characterization of Bioaerosols – Implications for Nucleation processes,International Reviews in Physical Chemistry 28 (2009) 1-32, doi:10.1080/01442350802597438.

19. V. Cote, G. Kos, R. Mortazavi, P. A. Ariya, Microbial and “de novo” Transformation of Dicarboxylic Acids by Three Airborne Fungi, Science of the Total Environment340 (2008) 530-537, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.10.035.

20. G. Kos, H. Lohninger, R. Krska, Optimisation of the Sample Preparation Procedure for the Rapid Screening of Fungal Infection on Corn Using Mid-infrared Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy (ATR), Food Additives and Contaminants, 24 (2006) 721-729, doi:10.1080/02652030601186111.

21. G.Kos, P. A. Ariya, Determination of Wide Range Volatile Organic Compounds in Snow Using Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME), Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 385 (2006) 57-66, doi:10.1007/s00216-006-0333-5.

22. J. Stroka, M. Spanjer, S. Buechler, S. Barel, G.Kos, E. Anklam, Novel Sampling Methods for the Analysis of Mycotoxins and the Combination with Spectroscopic Methods for the Rapid Evaluation of Deoxynivalenol Contamination, Toxicology Letters 153, 1 (2004) 99-107, doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2004.04.039.

23. G. Kos, H. Lohninger, R. Krska, P. Griffiths, Rapid Screening of Fungal Infection on Corn using Mid-infrared Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy (DRS) and Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy (ATR): A Comparison Study, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 378 (2004) 159-166, doi:10.1007/s00216-003-2245-y.

24. G. Kos, H. Lohninger, R. Krska, Validation of Chemometric Models for the Determination of Deoxynivalenol on Maize by Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy, Mycotoxin Research 19, 2 (2004) 149-153, doi:10.1007/BF02942955.

25. G. Kos, H. Lohninger, R. Krska, Development of a Novel Rapid Method for the Determination of Fusarium Fungi on Corn using Mid-infrared Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) and Chemometrics, Analytical Chemistry75 (2003) 1211-1217, doi:10.1021/ac0260903.

26. G. Kos, H. Lohninger, R. Krska, Fourier Transform Mid-infrared Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FT-IR/ATR) as a Tool for the Detection of Fusarium Fungi on Maize, Vibrational Spectroscopy 29 (2002) 115-119, doi:10.1016/S0924-2031(01)00196-5.

27. G. Kos, H. Lohninger, R. Krska, Classification of Maize Contaminated with Fusarium Graminearum Using Mid-infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics, Mycotoxin Research, 18, S1 (2002) 104-108, doi:10.1007/BF02946074.

28. G. Kos, H. Lohninger, R. Krska, Using Mid-Infrared Fourier-Transform-Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FT-IR/ATR) as a tool for the determination of Fusarium Graminearum on Maize, Mycotoxin Research, 17A, 1 (2001) 102-106, doi:10.1007/BF03036722.

CHEM 217 Introductory Analytical Chemistry I (3 credits)

Prerequisites: CHEM 205, 206; PHYS 204, 206, 224, 226; MATH 203, 205; or equivalents for all prerequisite courses

Precipitation methods and solubility products; activity, chemical equilibria and titration curves of neutralization and complexation systems; treatment of analytical data.

Lectures and laboratory.

CHEM 218 Introductory Analytical Chemistry II (3 credits)

Prerequisite: CHEM 217.

Chemical equilibria and titration curves of oxidation-reduction, precipitation, and non-aqueous systems; potentiometry and potentiometric titrations; introduction to spectroscopy with emphasis on molecular and atomic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy.

Lectures and laboratory.

CHEM 234 Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics (3 credits)

Prerequisites: CHEM 205, 206; PHYS 204, 206, 224, 226; MATH 203, 205; or equivalents for all prerequisite courses.

The properties of ideal and real gases; first, second and third laws of thermodynamics; the phase rule; one‐ and two‐component systems; real solutions, and partial properties, chemical equilibrium.

Lectures and tutorials.

SFYX 201 Science First Year Experience (3 credits)

Prerequisites: None

This seminar provides a hands-on approach of exploring an environmental issue from an interdisciplinary  perspective. Following an introduction to the scientific literature and research methodology two projects, with one of them including a field trip will introduce students to project planning, collection and analysis of environmental samples and data analysis. Focus will be on the development of academic (e.g., writing/research) and personal (e.g., collaborative/communication) skills relevant to scientific disciplines.

Projects, presentations, field projects, guest lectures.

CHEM 298 Air, Water and Soil Processes (3 credits)

Prerequisites: CHEM212 or CHEM217

Introductory Environmental Chemistry with focus on atmospheric chemistry (air quality), water and soil chemistry. Includes an optional visit to a Montreal pollution monitoring station.

Lectures, student presentations.

CHEM 610/498 Advanced Data Analysis (3 credits)

Prerequisites: CHEM312

An introduction to statistical programming using R and application to chemical data sets. Exploratory data analysis and plotting. Statistical methods discussed include linear regression, ANOVA, multivariate data analysis methods (e.g., PCA, PCR, PLS, decision trees, ANN). Introduction to Experimental Design.

In collaboration with Dr. D. Vuckovic, Dr, X. Zhang and Dr. C. Skinner.

Lectures, projects, presentations.