Jacqueline Gerson

Assistant Professor, Biological and Environmental Engineering

About

Jacqueline Gerson studies how anthropogenic activities have altered the cycling of nutrients and contaminants through watersheds. As an Assistant Professor in BEE, she focuses on the fate, transport, and transformation of these elements and compounds within and between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. She is particularly interested in linked biogeochemical cycles within complex socioenvironmental systems. She also evaluates the implications of contaminants for the people and animals that live in these landscapes.

Education

Ph.D. Ecology - Duke University
M.S. Environmental Engineering Science - Syracuse University
B.A. Biochemistry - Colgate University

Recent Research

Research Interests: biogeochemistry, contaminant fate and transport, nutrient cycling, water quality and sustainability.

Courses Taught

Professor Gerson teaches students about water quality, from sample collection to data analysis and ultimately management of our waters. Her courses examine the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of water quality, and how this information can be leveraged to develop effective polices and management strategies that benefit both human and ecological health. The goal in her courses is to both gain a strong scientific understanding, as well as to learn to effectively communicate findings.

Her courses include:

BEE 4620/6620 Water Quality and Management

Contact Information

316 Riley-Robb Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

jacqueline.gerson [at] cornell.edu

- Gerson Lab

Jacqueline in the news

A mayfly sitting on the surface of water

News

April 25, 2025

Mayflies accumulate more mercury when selenium is added to polluted water

Researchers found that at low levels of mercury, selenium additions did seem to help mayfly larva from accumulating mercury. But at high mercury levels – the condition in which environmental remediation is most needed – selenium actually made...

Biological and Environmental Engineering
Water
Ecosystems

Two researchers core a tree in the Peruvian Amazon.

News

April 8, 2025

Tree rings track atmospheric mercury cheaply

Wild fig tree rings offer a cheap method for tracking toxic atmospheric mercury, a byproduct of gold mining in the Global South.

Biological and Environmental Engineering
Environment
Planet