Loretta A. Fernandez

Loretta Fernandez is Associate Professor and Associate Chair at Northeastern University, with appointments in Civil Engineering and Marine Science. Her research develops analytical methods for tracking environmental contaminants, particularly focusing on passive sampling techniques for aquatic systems.

Research interests include environmental forensics of PFAS compounds, munition degradation products in marine environments, and microplastic pollution dynamics. She leads SERC-funded projects establishing PFAS source material libraries and in-situ contaminant degradation methods.

Honored with Diversity Recognition Award and ESTCP Project of the Year for contaminant research. Recent publications advance quantitative methods for contaminant monitoring and forensic source identification.

Laboratory investigations focus on transport mechanisms of legacy pollutants in coastal ecosystems and urban watersheds.