Dr. Elsie Sunderland

Biography

Elsie Sunderland is the Fred Kavli Professor of Environmental Chemistry in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. Her research focuses on biogeochemical processes that affect the fate and transport of trace metals and organic chemicals through food webs and into biota. The Sunderland Lab develops and applies models across various scales, from ecosystems to ocean basins, including the Gulf of Maine and the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Their global applications characterize the impacts of climate change and emissions on human and ecological health, as well as the potential effects of regulatory activities. The lab also conducts key measurements of chemical concentrations and reaction rates in environmental samples, including natural waters, sediments, and aquatic organisms, as well as in humans. Current research involves elucidating the biogeochemical cycling of industrial chemicals with different physical and chemical properties, analyzing entire exposure pathways, and enhancing the understanding of chemical persistence and accumulation in biota. Sunderland’s innovative work quantitatively analyzes various properties of compounds in air and water, focusing on factors like stability in the atmosphere and photodegradation in water.

Research Interests

Experience