Skip to main content

Emily S. Bernhardt

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biology
Biology
Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708-0000
FFSC 3313, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Emily Bernhardt is an ecosystem ecologist and biogeochemist whose research is principally concerned with tracking the movement of elements through ecological systems. Dr. Bernhardt's research aims to document the extent to which the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems is being altered by land use change (urbanization, agriculture, mining) global change (rising CO2, rising sea levels) and chemical pollution. Ultimately this information is necessary to determine whether and how ecosystem change can be mitigated or prevented through active ecosystem management.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biology · 2019 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Biology · 2016 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Chair of the Department of Biology · 2020 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Director of Trinity Climate and Sustainability Engagement · 2024 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society · 2017 - Present Duke Science & Society, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published October 30, 2023
Course Widens Discourse Around Climate Change
Published October 27, 2023
Sustainability Discussions On Tap for Steelman’s Upcoming Trip to Asia
Published May 2, 2023
Three Faculty Elected to National Academy of Sciences

View All News

Recent Publications


Tracing Atmospheric Mercury from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining.

Journal Article Environmental science & technology · March 2025 Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the largest primary sources of mercury (Hg) pollution in the atmosphere globally; however, there is a paucity of atmospheric Hg data in ASGM areas. We measured atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GE ... Full text Cite

Ecosystem metabolism estimates from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) stream and river sites.

Journal Article Scientific data · March 2025 Expanded availability of estimates of ecosystem metabolism and gas exchange from the worlds streams and rivers is rapidly revising estimates of river contributions to global carbon budgets. Here, we present estimates of gross primary production, ecosystem ... Full text Cite
View All Publications

Recent Grants


LTREB: Streams to Screens: Bringing the Hubbard Brook Watershed Ecosystem Record (HB-WatER) into the 21st Century

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies · 2019 - 2029

Duke University Program in Environmental Health

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2029

LTER: Long Term Ecological Research at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies · 2023 - 2029

View All Grants

Education, Training & Certifications


Cornell University · 2001 Ph.D.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 1996 B.S.

External Links


Bernhardt lab