Loretta A. Fernandez

Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice,  Civil and Environmental Engineering
Associate Professor,  Marine and Environmental Sciences

Contact

Office

  • 473 Snell Engineering
  • 617.373.5461

Lab

  • 231 Egan Research Center

Research Focus

Environmental organic chemistry; passive sampling methods; transport and transformation of contaminants in built and natural environments

Education

  • PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010
  • SM, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005
  • BS, Northeastern University, 2002
  • BA, Tufts University, 1993

Honors & Awards

  • 2024 Diversity Recognition Award
  • 2022 College of Engineering Faculty Fellow
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award
  • Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) Project of the Year, Co-Performer (2011)
  • National Research Council, Research Associateship (2010)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Chemical Society
  • Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
  • Tau Beta Pi

Research Overview

Environmental organic chemistry; passive sampling methods; transport and transformation of contaminants in built and natural environments

Selected Research Projects

Research Centers and Institutes

Affiliations:

Coastal Sustainability Institute

Social Science Environmental Health Institute

Selected Publications

  • A.S. Joyce, L.A. Fernandez, R.M. Burgess, In Situ Investigation of Performance Reference Compound-Based Estimates of PCB Equilibrated Passive Sampler Concentrations and C free in the Marine Water Column, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 39(6), 2020, 1165-1173
  • A.V. Mueller, M.J. Eden, J.M. Oakes, C. Bellini, L.A. Fernandez, Quantitative Method for Comparative Assessment of Particle Removal Efficiency of Fabric Masks as Alternatives to Standard Surgical Masks for PPE, Matter, 3, 2020, 1-13
  • M.J. Benotti, L.A. Fernandez, G.F. Peaslee, G.S. Douglas, A.D. Uhler, S. Emsbo-Mattingly, A Forensic Approach for Indentifying PFAS Materials, Environmental Forensics,21(3-4), 2020, 319-333

Faculty

Aug 28, 2024

Finding Unexpected Ordnances on the Seafloor With Passive Samplers

CEE Associate Professor Loretta Fernandez is working to develop passive samplers to locate munitions dumped into oceans decades ago during World Wars I and II, while also studying the potential toxicities of these weapons as they have degraded over time.

Faculty

Mar 21, 2024

Field Experts Discuss the Monitoring of Microplastics in the Massachusetts Bay

At a full-day workshop, CEE/MES Associate Professor Loretta Fernandez, and members of research organizations, academia, and industry discussed microplastics in local water systems and proposed solutions to prevent potential health impacts as the plastics degrade.

Faculty

Mar 14, 2024

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Discarded Unexploded Ordnances

CEE/MES Associate Professor Loretta Fernandez explains the environmental risks of unexploded munitions and the toxic heavy metals they contain being left underwater. Lead and mercury, among other toxic chemicals, can leach into ocean water, ground water, and soil sediment. 

Faculty

Feb 01, 2024

Faculty and Staff Awards 2024

The College of Engineering recognized faculty and staff at the annual faculty and staff awards event and thanked everyone for their hard work and dedication in support of our students, college, and university during the 2023-2024 academic year. View award recipients and photo gallery.

Undergraduate

Oct 25, 2023

Students Nominated for Prestigious Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships

Benjamin Lanava, E’24, environmental engineering, and Siddharth Simon, E’24, computer engineering/computer science, were nominated by Northeastern for the Marshall Scholarship and Lanava also for the Rhodes Scholarship. Both prestigious awards support study in the UK for those distinguished by their academic accomplishments, records of leadership, and drive to serve.

Faculty

Apr 28, 2022

FY23 TIER 1 Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 15 COE faculty and affiliates who were recipients of FY23 TIER 1 Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grants for 13 different projects.

Faculty

Apr 15, 2022

Faculty and Staff Awards 2022

Congratulations to all the winners of the faculty and staff awards, and to everyone for their hard work and dedication during the 2021-2022 academic school year.

Jan 03, 2022

Choosing the Best Mask with the Omicron Variant

CEE Assistant Professor Loretta Fernandez and ChE Associate Professor Steve Lustig provide insights into what combination of materials and fits make the best face masks.

In the Media

Feb 11, 2021

If double-masking is hurting your ears, try these tips to relieve the pain

CEE Associate Professor Loretta Fernandez was featured in the Washington Post article “If double-masking is hurting your ears, try these tips to relieve the pain” for her research into finding effective fitting masks.

zoomed in view of person with mask on

Faculty

Feb 05, 2021

How to Wear 2 Masks Effectively

CEE Assistant Professor Loretta Fernandez and Amy Mueller explain how to best wear two masks effectively to keep out COVID-19 particles.

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