From Exploration to Impact: UM Undergraduate Research Drives Student Success

Joseph Knudsen photo by Tommy Martino

April 23, 2025 – University of Montana News

University of Montana undergraduate researcher Joseph Knudsen developed air-quality monitoring tools and a mobile lab to measure prescribed-fire smoke. Working in Lu Hu’s atmospheric chemistry group, his research supports Montana NSF EPSCoR’s SMART FIRES goals by improving smoke monitoring, emissions modeling, and prescribed-burn planning to reduce wildfire risk and protect public health.