Adrienne Katner

Dr. Adrienne Katner serves as Associate Professor and Program Director for Environmental and Occupational Health at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health. Her career spans academic research, government service at Louisiana Office of Public Health, and National Cancer Institute fellowship. Current affiliations include membership on LSU-Health SPH Appointments, Promotion and Tenure Committee (2024-2026), National Science Foundation's Known Rivers Project committee (2024-2025), and advisory roles with Claiborne Avenue Alliance and Water Collaborative.

• DEnv in Environmental Science & Engineering, University of California Los Angeles (2011)
• MS in Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona (1998)
• BA in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Cruz (1994)

Dr. Katner's research program addresses critical intersections of environmental justice, infrastructure vulnerability, and regulatory gaps. Her work centers on water quality challenges—particularly lead contamination in aging systems and private well vulnerabilities during disasters—as well as air pollution impacts in historically marginalized communities. Current projects investigate pollution along New Orleans' Claiborne Avenue corridor and develop citizen science approaches for water safety. She has pioneered interdisciplinary K-12 environmental health curricula used statewide, emphasizing community-driven solutions to environmental health disparities.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on environmental justice and infrastructure challenges, with recent work examining wildfire air quality impacts, point-of-use filter efficacy, and guestworker health during pandemics. Articles reveal strong emphasis on practical solutions for vulnerable populations, particularly in post-disaster contexts and industrialized neighborhoods. The research portfolio shows increasing integration of climate change considerations into environmental health frameworks.

• Top Impact Paper Award, Journal of Environmental Justice (2015-16) for EPA Lead and Copper Rule analysis
• National media recognition for lead-in-water research including New York Times coverage
• AAAS feature for community science health initiatives

Dr. Katner actively mentors through independent study courses and research projects, with students contributing to publications in Environmental Science & Technology Water and Journal of Louisiana Public Health Association. Her service includes organizing National Environmental Health Association workshops, serving on ABET accreditation committees, and advising community groups like Claiborne Corridor Alliance. Current grants include EPA-funded environmental education curriculum development and NSF-supported research on traffic-related pollutants in New Orleans' Treme community.

She leads community-engaged research initiatives including the Claiborne Corridor pollution study and statewide K-12 environmental health curriculum implementation. These projects involve partnerships with organizations including Claiborne Corridor Alliance Design Studio, STEM Heads NOLA, and Rise St James University. Her approach emphasizes co-creation of knowledge with community stakeholders to address environmental health disparities through both immediate interventions and systemic policy change.