David Pfotenhauer

Senior Associate

David Pfotenhauer, Ph.D. is an environmental scientist and atmospheric chemist with expertise in air quality, the fate and transport of environmental contaminants, and health impact analyses. His work focuses on assessing the impacts of air pollution and other environmental stressors on public health, with particular attention to cumulative exposures and effects in vulnerable and overburdened communities. He has led and supported analyses for regulatory impact assessments, cumulative impact tools, and climate and air quality studies at the local, national, and international levels.

David brings a rare end-to-end perspective that spans environmental sampling and monitoring, laboratory analysis methods, data management and statistical modeling, and synthesis of results for communication to decision-makers. Prior to joining IEc, he worked as an atmospheric chemist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, where he supported air monitoring programs and applied atmospheric chemistry principles to understand pollutant behavior, sources, and exposure pathways. His technical skill set includes analysis of large environmental datasets, geospatial analysis, and interpretation of observational and modeled air quality data, enabling him to translate complex scientific information into clear, policy-relevant insights for agencies, stakeholders, and the public.

David holds a B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from Luther College, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder where his studies focused on air-quality sensor technology and atmospheric chemistry.