Heileen Hsu-Kim

Heileen Hsu-Kim is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University, serving as Director of Graduate Studies. She holds joint appointments in the Division of Environmental Natural Sciences.

• B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1998)
• M.S., University of California, Berkeley (1999)
• Ph.D., University of University of California, Berkeley (2004)

Her research focuses on environmental aquatic chemistry and geochemistry, particularly mercury biogeochemistry, trace metal speciation, and nano-scale environmental processes. Current projects address coal ash contamination, trace metal recovery, and health impacts of mining pollution.

Recent publications emphasize mercury cycling in wetlands, REE extraction from coal byproducts, and toxicity mechanisms of nanoparticles. Her scientific awards include the Presidential Early Career Award (2011).

She teaches ENVIRON/CEE 666: Aquatic Geochemistry and ENVIRON 899: Master's Project, while leading Bass Connections Energy & Environment Research Teams. Media coverage highlights her work on mercury contamination in Peru, coal ash remediation, and global environmental health risks.