Dr. Carrie Mcdonough

Associate Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Carrie Mcdonough. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Carrie McDonough is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on environmental analytical chemistry, specifically examining the impacts of organic pollutants on water quality and ecosystem health. Utilizing high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and advanced analytical techniques, her lab investigates the transformation and transport of contaminants to understand their effects on living organisms and the environment. McDonough's work emphasizes the urgent need to evaluate the toxicity, bioavailability, and bioaccumulation of these pollutants as part of comprehensive environmental risk assessments. By developing workflows for non-target analysis, she aims to assess public health risks associated with novel contaminants and improve remediation techniques. Her innovative research has contributed significantly to the understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their effects on human health and the environment. McDonough has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, advocating for rigorous monitoring and evaluation of contaminants that pose significant risks to public health.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

2019-01-01 — Present

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Teaching and conducting research in the Department of Chemistry focusing on environmental analytical chemistry.

Postdoctoral Fellow

2017-01-01 — 2019-01-01

Colorado School of Mines •

Conducted research in chemical oceanography.

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.