Group Members
Primary Investigator
P. Lee Ferguson
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research Interests: Environmental analytical chemistry and applications of high resolution mass spectrometry to trace organic contaminant analysis, environmental fate and effects of carbon nanomaterials in the aquatic environment, proteomics in environmental toxicology, and mechanisms of...
Research Scientist
Patrick Faught
Research Associate
Patrick joined the lab in the Summer of 2019 as the Duke Superfund ACC intern. Following his internship, he joined the lab full time as a Research Associate to assist in the ongoing PFAST Network project as well as other lab projects related to the Superfund Center and PFAS in the environment...
Abigail Joyce, Ph.D.
ACC Superfund Center Research Scientist
PhD Students
Anna Lewis
Doctoral Candidate - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Anna is interested in the use of non-target LC-HRMS for characterization polymer additives, specifically disperse azobenzene dyes, in microplastic fibers. Her research focuses on desorption of disperse azobenzene dyes from the fibers and biological uptake in oysters.
Jake C. Ulrich
Doctoral Candidate - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Jake joined the lab as a graduate student in 2017. His work primarily focuses on applying high-performance mass spectrometry tools to better understand environmental contamination. He works on developing methods to better detect and quantify glyphosate, as well as, understanding the...
Past Members
Visiting Scholars
Christopher P Higgins
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmenal Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Bernadette Vogler
Topic: "Development of 2D-UHPLC separations coupled to high resolution MS for analysis of target and non-target emerging contaminants"
Research Scientist
Gordon Getzinger
Affiliate
Ellen Cooper
Postdoctoral Associates
Christopher Kassotis, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Research Topic: The potential for metabolic disruption by polyethoxylated surfactants commonly found in indoor house dust and wastewaters, the connection between the adipogenic activity of indoor house dust and the metabolic health of residents, the utility and robustness of in vitro models for predicting in vivo effects, utilizing new molecular tools to simplify and identify causative chemicals present in complex mixtures, and the potential health risks associated with exposure to unconventional oil and gas operations utilizing hydraulic fracturing.
Erin Kollitz
Manuel D Montaño
Research Topic: The release of polymer additives from nanocomposites embedded with carbon nanotubes
Kimberly J Ralston-Hooper
Topic: "The use of molecular approaches to evaluate endocrine disrupting effects in small fish species"
Ariette Schierz
Topic: "Near infrared spectroscopy for analysis of single-walled carbon nanotubes in the aquatic environment"
Carin Huset
Topic: "Identification of toxic components in aircraft deicing and anti-icing fluids"
PhD Students
Kirsten Overdahl
PhD October 2021
Topic: "Characterizing Exposures and In Vitro Effects of Azobenzene Disperse Dyes in the Indoor Environment"
Imari Walker Karega
PhD November 2021
Topic: "Release, Transformation, and Effects of Polymer-Associated Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment"
Jessica C Clark
Ph.D., Dec 2008, University of South Carolina
Topic: "Mechanistic Studies of Xenoestrogen-Mediated Modulation of the Estrogen Receptor Transcriptional Complex"
Noelle J DeStefano
Ph.D. November 2018, Duke University
Research Topic: Fate of polar organic compounds and nonionic surfactants associated with energy exploration and transport activities in marine environments.
Gordon J Getzinger
Ph.D. May 2016, Duke
Research Topic: Identifying the structure and fate of new and emerging organic contaminants by high-resolution mass spectrometry
Keira Liu
Ph.D. May 2018, Duke University - Chemistry
Research Topic: Analysis and fate of carbon nanotubes in the aquatic environment
Ashley N Parks
Ph.D. May 2013, Duke
Topic: "Contaminant Interactions and Biological Effects of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes in a Benthic Estuarine System"
Sarah J Choyke
Ph.D. July 2018, Duke University
Research Topic: Characterization of transformation and fate of oil spill dispersants associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Yiling Cui
Ph.D. Dec 2010, University of South Carolina
Topic: "The Influence of Changes in the Molecular Structure of N-Acylhomoserine Lactones on the Complexation and DNA-binding of LuxR Protein"
Lauren De Carbonnel
Masters Students
Janie Cooper
M.S. May 2017, Duke
Lauren K Shaw
M.S. Aug 2008, University of South Carolina
Topic: "Activity-Directed Analytical Tools Based on Hormone Receptor- Affinity Extraction for Isolating Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals From Complex Mixtures"
Katherine A Stencel
Graduate Student, Nicholas School of the Environment
Research Topic: Identifying estrogenic contaminants in water and wastewater using estrogen receptor-affinity extraction coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry
Benjamin A Englehart
M.S. Aug 2008, University of South Carolina
Topic: "Activity-Directed Analytical Tools Based on Hormone Receptor- Affinity Extraction for Isolating Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals From Complex Mixtures"
Boyd J Pritchard
M.S. Aug 2007, University of South Carolina
Topic: "Detection and Quantification of Natural and Synthetic Estrogens in Wastewater Using Solid Phase Extraction and UPLC-MS/MS"
Amanda DeMarco
M.S. May 2006, University of South Carolina
Topics: "Fate of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Estuarine Environments"