Jelena Srebric

Appointments

1. 2024–present

   Associate Dean for Research

   A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland

2. 2021–present

   Margaret G. and Frederick H. Kohloss Chair Professor

   Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland

3. Current

   Director

   Center for Sustainability in the Built Environment (City@UMD)

4. 2013–present

   Professor of Mechanical Engineering

   University of Maryland

Education

1. 2000

   Ph.D. in Building Technology

   Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2. 1997

   M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering

   University of Belgrade

3. 1994

   B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering

   University of Belgrade

Honors and awards

1. 2021

   American Academy of Teachers of Singing Award for COVID-19 Response

   AATS

2. 2020

   Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Innovation

   University System of Maryland

3. 2019

   Fellow

   International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA)

4. 2018

   Fellow

   International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ)

5. 2013

   International Member

   Serbian National Academy of Engineering

6. 2005

   Yaglou Award

   International Academy of Indoor Air Sciences

7. 2002

   Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award

   National Science Foundation

Research funding

1. 2026

   The Air We Share, A Public Health Revolution for the 21st Century

   University of Maryland Grand Challenges Grants 2.0 (Team Award) · Co-PI

2. 2021–2027

   Evaluating Modes of Influenza Transmission (EMIT-2) using Innovative Technologies and Designs in Controlled Environments

   National Institutes of Health (NIAID) · U19 research program; leads its project “Developing and Applying Analytical Models of Influenza Transmission” · Award U19AI162130 · Project lead · With Donald K. Milton (PI of the program)

3. 2021

   Translation of UMD Research Findings into an AI Thermostat Prototype for Thermal Comfort and Load Sheading

   Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI2) Energy Seed Grant (partnering company: Build Sci, Inc.) · PI

4. 2021

   Air-shield goggles: comfortable PPE alternative to masks for prolonged use (micro air cleaner with HEPA filter)

   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

5. 2020–2022

   RAPID: Energy-Efficient Disinfection of Viral Bioaerosols in Public Spaces: Vital for Lifting of the “Stay-at-Home” Orders during the Covid-19 Outbreak

   National Science Foundation · RAPID, Environmental Sustainability · Award 2032107 · PI · $200,000

6. 2020

   International Performing Arts Aerosol Study (aerosols from singing, wind instruments and theater; UMD study parallel to CU Boulder)

   Performing-arts coalition led by the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

7. 2014

   Robotic Personal Conditioning Device (RoCo), ARPA-E DELTA program

   U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E · Co-PI

8. 2010–2015

   EFRI-SEED: Creating Opportunities for Adaptation Based on Population in Urban Landscape for Sustainable Built Environment (PULSE)

   National Science Foundation · Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI-SEED) · Award 1038264, continued at the University of Maryland as 1452045 · PI · $2,000,000 · With John D. Spengler (Harvard University), Christoph Reinhart (MIT)

9. 2009–2012

   Modeling of Natural Plant Materials to Enable Performance Evaluation of Environmentally Friendly Buildings

   National Science Foundation · Structural Materials and Mechanics; Environmental Sustainability · Award 0900486 · PI · $318,236 · With Kevin A. Dressler (Penn State)

10. 2003–2006

    An Experimental Pedagogy in Sustainable Building Technologies: Integrating Teaching, Research and Public Scholarship

    National Science Foundation · Engineering Education · Award 0315638 · Co-PI · $381,485 · With David Riley (PI), Thomas E. Boothby (Penn State)

11. 2002–2009

    CAREER: Designing Healthy and Energy-Efficient Buildings Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

    National Science Foundation · Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) · Award 0134326 · PI · $390,000

12. 2001–2004

    An Indoor Environment Design Tool for Entire Buildings

    CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) · Mentored research scientist development award (K01) · Award K01OH007445 · PI · $160,079

13. UV inactivation rate constants (k-values) database

    ASHRAE

Publications

The complete, current list is on Google Scholar and ORCID, and searchable at jelenasrebric.com/publications.

Teaching

1. ENME 422 / ENME 753

   Indoor Environment and Mechanical Systems

   Undergraduate / graduate · Fall 2026 · University of Maryland

2. ENME 424 / ENME 742

   Urban Microclimate and Energy

   Graduate / undergraduate · Spring 2021 · University of Maryland

Professional service

1. Current

   Editorial Board Member, Building Simulation (Tsinghua University Press / Springer Nature)

   Editorial board

2. Member, ISIAQ STC 21 – Ventilation, International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ)

   Professional society

3. 2024

   Member, International Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC), Indoor Air 2024 (ISIAQ flagship conference)

   Conference

4. 2022

   Member, International Scientific Committee, ROOMVENT 2022 Conference, Xi'an

   Conference

5. 2013

   Track Chair, Track 1: Research Summit, ASHRAE 2013 Annual Conference, Denver, CO

   Conference

6. 2010

   Chair, Forum 9 "HVAC&R Research: Buildings and Energy" (sponsored by the HVAC&R Research journal), ASHRAE 2010 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM

   Conference

7. 2020

   Acting Associate Dean for Research, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland

   University

8. 2022

   Expert written testimony in support of HB0686, Safe Schools Indoor Air Act, Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee

Keynotes and invited talks

1. 2025

   Unlocking Cosmic Potential: Harnessing University Partnerships as Force Multipliers in Our Space Mission

   Panel · Maryland Space Business Roundtable (MSBR) January 2025 Luncheon · Martins Crosswinds, Greenbelt, MD

2. 2021

   Safely Reopening Update – Srebric Interview (What's Next for Fall: Updates on Preparing for a Healthy, Safe Reopening)

   Webinar · Chorus America public-health conversation series with Catherine Dehoney · Online

3. 2021

   What's Next: Preparing for a Healthy, Safe Reopening

   Panel · Chorus America 2021 Summer Conference

4. 2020

   Update on Aerosol Study: Dancers, Singers, Actors

   Webinar · Bringing Performance INDOORS: Performing Artists and Arts Organizations Discuss Performance Challenges with COVID-19 (Performing Arts Medicine Association webinar) · Online

5. 2020

   Women in Engineering (panel)

   Panel · ASME InterPACK 2020 Conference & Exhibition · Virtual

6. 2020

   Preliminary Study Results on the Safety of Singing

   Webinar · Joint webinar of NATS, ACDA, Chorus America, Barbershop Harmony Society and PAMA (Performing Arts Aerosol Study, second release) · Online

7. 2019

   Managing the Operational Needs of the Campus and The Journey to a Campus Living Laboratory (University of Maryland)

   Invited talk · OSIsoft PI World 2019 – Academic Symposium · San Francisco

8. 2015

   Green Roofs and Their Potential to Transform Built Environments through the Food-Energy-Water Nexus

   Invited talk · Food-Energy-Water (F-E-W) Nexus Workshop · The World Bank, Washington, DC

9. 2011

   Opportunities and Challenges for Multi-Scale Modeling of Sustainable Buildings

   Invited talk · National Academy of Engineering 2011 U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium (Engineering Sustainable Buildings session) · Mountain View, CA (Google headquarters)

10. 2011

    Plenary lecture

    Plenary · Indoor Air 2011 conference

11. 2004

    Development of New HVAC Design Tools: Search for the Holy Grail of Ventilation Research

    Seminar · EETD Seminar, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory · Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Bldg. 90-3148

Media coverage

1. 2026

   UMD scientists keep trying — and failing — to give people the flu

   The Baltimore Banner · January 26, 2026

2. 2024

   Welcome to the Hotel Influenza

   Maryland Today (UMD) · October 1, 2024

3. 2023

   New ‘cooling glass’ sends heat into space

   The Engineer · November 14, 2023

4. 2022

   Pandemic lessons can lead to more-prosperous communities

   WTOP News · March 9, 2022

5. 2021

   COVID-19 Precautions Help Make Music That’s Beautiful and Safe

   JAMA (Medical News & Perspectives) · November 2, 2021

6. 2021

   With safety in mind, schools are getting their bands back together

   NPR · October 23, 2021

7. 2021

   Music classes are back in school this year, finally indoors and off Zoom

   NPR · October 13, 2021

8. 2021

   Coronavirus FAQs: What Should I Do With My Vaccine Card? Is Choir Practice OK Now?

   NPR · April 2, 2021

9. 2021

   Blown Away

   Maryland Today (UMD) · February 4, 2021

10. 2020

    Safe live music performances possible during COVID-19

    FOX 8 WVUE (New Orleans) · December 16, 2020

11. 2020

    Musicians Improvise Masks for Wind Instruments

    Chicago Health · October 23, 2020

12. 2020

    What will plexiglass dividers do at the VP debate? Not much, experts say

    NBC News · October 7, 2020

13. 2020

    Beyond Plexiglass: Scientists Say This Simple Solution Could Keep VP Debate Safer

    NPR · October 7, 2020

14. 2020

    Plexiglass Barriers Won’t Stop the Virus at the Debate, Experts Warn

    The New York Times · October 7, 2020

15. 2020

    Clemson band director helps launch national safety study on musical instruments

    The Post and Courier · August 14, 2020

16. 2020

    Is Singing Together Safe In The Era Of Coronavirus? Not Really, Experts Say

    NPR · August 10, 2020

17. 2020

    What Happens to Viral Particles on the Subway

    The New York Times · August 10, 2020

18. 2020

    Will The Show Still Go On For College Marching Bands During the COVID-19 Era?

    Sports Illustrated · August 3, 2020

19. 2020

    Marching bands aren’t sure how to handle the pandemic. So they commissioned two studies involving spit.

    Tampa Bay Times · June 26, 2020

20. 2020

    Scientists Consider Indoor Ultraviolet Light to Zap Coronavirus in the Air

    The New York Times · May 7, 2020

21. 2016

    Instead of air conditioning, a robot could keep you cool

    The Diamondback · July 13, 2016

22. 2016

    UMD Dashboard application enables access to campus utility usage

    The Diamondback · May 3, 2016

23. 2007

    A unifying force

    Professional Roofing · November 1, 2007