2018.09 – 2022.07,University of Edinburgh, Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences 

2015.09 – 2018.07,Peking University, Master of Science in Geography (Urban and Regional Planning) 

2011.09 – 2015.07,East China Normal University, Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information System

2026.03 – Present,Assistant Professor (tenure-track), China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University  

2023.04 – 2026.02,Research Scientist (open-ended), National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) and School of GeoSciences,University of Edinburgh

2022.03 – 2023.03,Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh  

2021.10 – 2022.02,Research Consultant (part-time), Edinburgh Innovations, University of Edinburgh  

• Atmospheric environment, its impacts, and responses
• Renewable energy and climate change mitigation
• AI-enabled sustainable energy and environment research

At the University of Edinburgh:

2023.01 – 2024.07,Global Change and IT Small Grants, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh,PI

2022.10 – 2024.01,Google Cloud Research Credits Program and Earth Engine Uplift Program,PI

2021.01 – 2021.07,IT Small Grants, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh,PI

2023.04 – 2026.02,Natural Environment Research Council (NERC),Key Personnel

2024.01 – 2025.03,UK Space Agency (UKSA),Participant

2022.05 – 2023.03,Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI),Key Personnel

20 publications in total, including 10 as first and/or corresponding authors, with 3 in Nature Index journals (as of March 2026).

(Corresponding author^*; co-first author^#; group members are shown in bold when they are first and/or corresponding authors)

1. Yin, K.^#, Yao, F.^#, Luo, N., Gao, M., Lu, X.^* and Yi, B.^*, 2026. Substantial reduction of solar photovoltaic potential in China by an extreme dust event. Communications Earth & Environment, 7(1), p.44. doi: 10.1038/s43247-025-03123-1
2. Wang, H., Maslanka, W., Palmer, P.I.^*, Wooster, M.J., Wang, H., Yao, F., Feng, L., Wu, K., Lu, X.^* and Fan, S.^*, 2025. Using geostationary-satellite-derived sub-daily fire radiative power variability versus prescribed diurnal cycles to assess the impact of African fires on tropospheric ozone. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 25(23), pp.17501-17526. doi: 10.5194/acp-25-17501-2025
3. Yao, F.^*, Palmer, P.I., Liu, J., Chen, H. and Wang, Y., 2025. Attribution of Solar Energy Yield Gaps due to Transboundary Particulate Matter Pollution Associated with Trade across Northeast Asia. Environmental Science & Technology, 59(29), pp.15092-15100. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c05935
4. Liu, J.^#, Yao, F.^#, Chen, H.^* and Zhao, H.^*, 2025. Quantifying the Source–Receptor Relationships of PM_2.5 Pollution and Associated Health Impacts among China, South Korea, and Japan: A Dual Perspective and an Interdisciplinary Approach. Environmental Health Perspectives, 133(3-4), p.047011. doi: 10.1289/EHP14550
5. Wang, Y., Wang, H., Yao, F.^*, Stouffs, R. and Wu, J.^*, 2024. An integrated framework for jointly assessing spatiotemporal dynamics of surface urban heat island intensity and footprint: China, 2003–2020. Sustainable Cities and Society, 112, p.105601. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2024.105601
6. Marvin, M.R.^*, Palmer, P.I., Yao, F., Latif, M.T. and Khan, M.F., 2024. Uncertainties from biomass burning aerosols in air quality models obscure public health impacts in Southeast Asia. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 24(6), pp.3699-3715. doi: 10.5194/acp-24-3699-2024
7. Yao, F.^* and Palmer, P.I., 2022. Source Sector Mitigation of Solar Energy Generation Losses Attributable to Particulate Matter Pollution. Environmental Science & Technology, 56(12), pp.8619-8628. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01175
8. Liu, J.^*, Li, J. and Yao, F., 2022. Source-receptor relationship of transboundary particulate matter pollution between China, South Korea and Japan: Approaches, current understanding and limitations. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 52(21), pp.3896-3920. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2021.1964308
9. Wu, J.^*, Wang, Y., Liang, J. and Yao, F., 2021. Exploring common factors influencing PM_2.5 and O₃ concentrations in the Pearl River Delta: Tradeoffs and synergies. Environmental Pollution, 285(117138), pp.10-1016. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117138
10. Mogno, C.^*, Palmer, P.I., Knote, C., Yao, F. and Wallington, T.J., 2021. Seasonal distribution and drivers of surface fine particulate matter and organic aerosol over the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 21(14), pp.10881-10909. doi: 10.5194/acp-21-10881-2021
11. Yao, F.^* and Palmer, P.I., 2021. A model framework to reduce bias in ground-level PM_2.5 concentrations inferred from satellite-retrieved AOD. Atmospheric Environment, 248, p.118217. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118217
12. Guo, H., Zhan, Q., Ho, H.C., Yao, F., Zhou, X., Wu, J. and Li, W.^*, 2020. Coupling mobile phone data with machine learning: How misclassification errors in ambient PM_2.5 exposure estimates are produced?. Science of The Total Environment, 745, p.141034. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141034
13. Guo, H., Li, W.^*, Yao, F., Wu, J., Zhou, X., Yue, Y. and Yeh, A.G., 2020. Who are more exposed to PM_2.5 pollution: A mobile phone data approach. Environment International, 143, p.105821. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105821
14. Wu, J., Liang, J., Zhou, L., Yao, F. and Peng, J.^*, 2019. Impacts of AOD correction and spatial scale on the correlation between high-resolution AOD from Gaofen-1 satellite and In Situ PM_2.5 measurements in Shenzhen City, China. Remote Sensing, 11(19), p.2223. doi: 10.3390/rs11192223
15. Yao, F., Wu, J.^*, Li, W.^* and Peng, J., 2019. A spatially structured adaptive two-stage model for retrieving ground-level PM_2.5 concentrations from VIIRS AOD in China. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 151, pp.263-276. doi: 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2019.03.011
16. Yao, F., Wu, J.^*, Li, W. and Peng, J., 2019. Estimating daily PM_2.5 concentrations in Beijing using 750-M VIIRS IP AOD retrievals and a nested spatiotemporal statistical model. Remote Sensing, 11(7), p.841. doi: 10.3390/rs11070841
17. Yao, F., Si, M., Li, W.^* and Wu, J.^*, 2018. A multidimensional comparison between MODIS and VIIRS AOD in estimating ground-level PM_2.5 concentrations over a heavily polluted region in China. Science of the Total Environment, 618, pp.819-828. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.209
18. Wang, Z., Yao, F., Li, W. and Wu, J.^*, 2017. Saturation correction for nighttime lights data based on the relative NDVI. Remote Sensing, 9(7), p.759. doi: 10.3390/rs9070759
19. Wu, J., Yao, F., Li, W.^* and Si, M., 2016. VIIRS-based remote sensing estimation of ground-level PM_2.5 concentrations in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei: A spatiotemporal statistical model. Remote Sensing of Environment, 184, pp.316-328. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2016.07.015
20. Yao, F., Ye, K. and Zhou, J.^*, 2015. Automatic image classification and retrieval by analyzing plant leaf features. Journal of Zhejiang A&F University, 32(3), pp.426-433. doi: 10.11833/j.issn.2095-0756.2015.03.015

Teaching Assistant at the University of Edinburgh:

• Earth’s Atmospheric Composition (2020, 2021)
• Visual Analytics (2019)
• Welcome Week Computing Induction (2019)

Referee for top-tier journal such as Environmental Science & Technology.

Student Years (Selected):

• National Scholarship (2013, 2016, 2017)
• Excellent Graduate of Peking University (2018)
• Peking University Award for Academic Innovation (2016, 2017)
• 2016 IACP (International Association for China Planning) Best Student Paper
• Excellent Graduate of Shanghai Municipal (2015)