Jessica Gephart

Jessica Gephart serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at American University and holds the prestigious appointment of U.S. Science Envoy for the U.S. Department of State. Her research group investigates the critical nexus between seafood globalization and environmental change, utilizing integrated datasets on global trade flows, local consumption patterns, and ecological impacts to address food security challenges in aquatic food systems.

Dr. Gephart earned her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center. Her scholarly focus spans fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood trade networks, with particular emphasis on how environmental disruptions affect global food supply chains and how trade patterns generate transboundary ecological consequences. Current projects examine sustainable diets, food system trade-offs, and the globalization of aquatic foods through data-intensive approaches.

Her notable appointments include:

• U.S. Science Envoy (Department of State)
• Scientific Leadership Team for Blue Food Assessment (co-leading environment and justice chapters)
• Science Advisor for Oceana

Dr. Gephart currently directs NSF-funded projects HNDS-I (global seafood trade database) and CNH-L (reef fisheries and human health dynamics). Her lab actively contributes to the Aquatic Resource Trade in Species (ARTIS) Database, Pacific Planetary Health Initiative, and Food Systems Countdown Initiative. The research group maintains a formal Code of Conduct that explicitly prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, cultural identity, physical appearance, or religion, reflecting her commitment to inclusive scientific collaboration where diverse perspectives drive innovation in food system sustainability.