Theobard Habineza

(he/him)

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About

Theobard Habineza is a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a member of Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies. He is jointly advised by Dr. Albert Presto and Dr. Allen Robinson. His background includes a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a master's degree in Atmospheric and Climate Sciences from the University of Rwanda. Before joining Carnegie Mellon University, Theobard worked as a Climate Change and Air Quality Technical Expert at Rwanda Climate Observatory under the management of the Rwanda Space Agency.

His research focuses on particulate matter (PM) chemical characterization and source apportionment in Eastern Africa and its comparison with the Global North. He is conducting an intensive real-time measurement campaign to quantify the concentration and composition of PM₂.₅ using the Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) in Rwanda. He is also planning to conduct integrated measurements using filter samples in different neighborhoods to understand the effect of the different land uses on air quality degradation in the Global South. Theobard is also exploring options to conduct mobile sampling with the ACSM and other regulatory-graded instruments to investigate neighborhood-scale variations and vertical concentration distributions of PM₂.₅ in hilly Kigali.