Emily M Elliott

Emily Maureen Elliot is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh who is known for her work linking nitrogen cycling and human activities. She was elected a fellow of the Ecological Society of America in 2024.

Education and career Elliott received a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.S. from Johns Hopkins University. She earned her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 2003. As a postdoctoral fellow, she worked with Carol Kendall at the United States Geological Survey. She then moved to the University of Pittsburgh, and as of 2026 she is a professor and director of the Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach.

Research Elliott is known for her research on nitrogen cycling, with a particular focus on how people impact the nitrogen cycle. Her early research investigated how isotopes of nitrogran can be used to track atmospheric deposition of nitrogen. She used nitrogen isotopes to track emissions from coal plants and precipitation from hurricanes. Her research has also investigated how chemicals used during the treatment of drinking water end up in urban streams.

Awards and honors In 2018 Elliot received the Sulzman Award for excellence in education and mentoring from the American Geophysical Union.

Selected publications