Emily Elliott

Dr. Emily Elliott is a Professor in the Department of Geology & Environmental Science at the University of Pittsburgh. She directs the Pitt Isotope Tracers Lab and co-founded the Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach, bridging water research with governance and community action. Her research focuses on human impacts on nitrogen dynamics across ecosystems, employing stable isotope techniques. Key areas include urban water quality, nutrient cycling, and interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges.

Dr. Elliott’s work integrates biogeochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, and hydrology, with applications to energy production, transportation, and urban environments. She has developed novel methods for nitrogen isotope analysis, advancing understanding of reactive nitrogen deposition and atmospheric processing. Her recent studies examine the effects of Marcellus Shale extraction on nitrogen deposition, urban stream restoration, and lead abatement in drinking water systems.

Notable achievements include the 2018 AGU Sulzman Award for Education and Mentoring and her role as a Science Ambassador through the National Academies. Her research has been published in journals such as Environmental Science & Technology and Science of the Total Environment, addressing topics ranging from cyanobacterial blooms to green infrastructure efficacy.

Awards and recognitions highlight her contributions to both science and education, emphasizing diversity in geosciences and community-engaged research. She collaborates widely, fostering transdisciplinary solutions to environmental challenges through initiatives like ENERGY-NET and the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory.