Overview
Dr. Gilbertson's research focuses on sustainable design of emerging materials and products. She integrates molecular design and systems-level analysis to advance minimally impactful, high performing solutions that address today’s most pressing challenges at the intersection of environmental and public health.
Prior to joining Duke in 2023, Dr. Gilbertson was an Associate Professor and the Fulton C. Noss Faculty Fellow in the CEE Department at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a postdoc in the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University's Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Gilbertson received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in education from Hamilton College, after which she spent several years as a secondary school teacher before returning to graduate school. Her background and experiences underline the interdisciplinary research program she leads.
Prior to joining Duke in 2023, Dr. Gilbertson was an Associate Professor and the Fulton C. Noss Faculty Fellow in the CEE Department at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a postdoc in the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University's Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Gilbertson received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in education from Hamilton College, after which she spent several years as a secondary school teacher before returning to graduate school. Her background and experiences underline the interdisciplinary research program she leads.
Dr. Gilbertson’s research projects involve designing materials to advance sustainable development of solutions to drinking water treatment, food production, and antimicrobial resistant challenges. Her research has been recognized and is supported by the National Science Foundation, including the CAREER award, 3M non-tenured faculty award, and the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. She was also a Gordon and Betty Moore Inventor Fellow finalist.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
·
2023 - Present
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Associate Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
·
2023 - Present
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science,
Pratt School of Engineering
Recent Publications
A Lecithin Liposome Stimulates Soil Microbial Respiration and Nitrate Immobilization.
Journal Article ACS agricultural science & technology · December 2025 Liposomes are microscale lipid vesicles used in pharmaceuticals, food products, and most recently, agriculture. Several studies have shown that liposomes can deliver nutrients to plant leaves, often more efficiently than traditional forms. However, the del ... Full text CiteTuning Reactive Species Production of Graphitic Carbon Nitride via Oxygen Doping
Journal Article ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering · November 10, 2025 In this work, we demonstrate the ability to manipulate the generation of reactive species (RS) in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) using oxygen doping. g-C3N4is a catalyst used in photocatalytic applications, an ... Full text CiteToward Sustainable Scaled-Up Synthesis of Lignin-Derived Carbon Nanoparticles Using a Furnace Aerosol Reactor: Insights from a Life Cycle Assessment.
Journal Article Environmental science & technology · September 2025 A key aspect of circular economies is using sustainable pathways for processing advanced materials. While significant advances have been made in the discovery of novel materials that have innovative functionalities, rarely is attention provided to a holist ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Photocatalytic conversion of methane from livestock waste into valuable chemicals using non-metal polymeric carbon nitride to promote sustainability in agriculture
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by United States- Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund · 2025 - 2028Preventing pathogenic bacteria in hydroponic systems with carbon nitride-coated, LED optical fibers
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by United States- Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund · 2025 - 2026ECO-CBET: Sustainability from the Bottom Up: A Holistic Solution to Balancing the N-Cycle
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Pittsburgh · 2023 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Yale University ·
2014
Ph.D.
Yale University ·
2012
M.S.
Hamilton College ·
2007
B.S.