Penny Vlahos

(Ph.D., University Of Massachusetts) Professor of Marine Sciences

Our group’s research interests are in the biogeochemical cycling of elements and compounds such as  carbon and nitrogen, particularly in understanding and identifying the processes that control the global cycling of carbon. The cycling of carbon on our planet is of critical importance to the biosphere, our climate and is directly related to the cycling of other elements. An important subset of this pool is anthropogenic organic compounds that may persist in the environment. Details about our group and news are available at https://env.chem.uconn.edu/.

Research:

  • Understanding and identifying the processes that control the global cycling of carbon
  • Alkalinity, aragonite saturation and acidification studies
  • Carbonate and borate chemistry in Arctic marginal ice zones
  • Measuring the distributions and transport of organic contaminants
  • Development of passive chemical samplers for the monitoring of organic contaminants

    Research Projects

    Current projects:
    • Air-Sea transfer models for the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide in Sea Spray (NSF)
    • Arctic marginal ice zone alkalinity (AMIZA/BAMZ), (NSF)
    • Alkalinity in Long Island Sound, (EPA, SeaGrant)
    • Agrochemicals in Sri Lankan drinking water (NIH)
    • Chemical sensor development and calibration (EPA)

    Current Oceanography Students

    • Lauren Barrett – Ph.D. expected 2024
    • Lucy Hendrickson – Ph.D. expected 2027
    • Samantha Rush Ph.D. expected 2027
    • Quin Zabel Ph.D. (Chemistry Department) expected 2029
    • Erich Nitchke MA expected 2026
    • Katie Halston MA expected 2026
    • Olivia Patrinicola MA expected 2026

    Oceanography Alumni

    • Emma Shipley – Ph.D.
    • Mary McGuinness – M.Sc. 2022
    • Allison Staniec – Ph.D. 2020
    • Allison Byrd – M.Sc. 2019
    • Joseph K. Warren – M.Sc. 2017
    • Thivanka Ariyarathna – Ph.D. 2016
    • Joanne Elmoznino – Ph.D. 2016
    • Ellen Johnson – M.Sc. 2018
    • Cervinia V. (Ivy) Manalo – M.Sc. 2007
    • Kristin Raub – M.Sc. 2013
    • Tiffany St. George – M.Sc. 2014

    Publications for Vlahos

      Courses Taught

      MARN 4030W/5030 – Chemical Oceanography (offered every fall semester)

      Three credits. Composition, origin and solution chemistry of seawater and the marine biogeochemical cycles of salts, elements and gases. Distributions and transfer in the marine environment through chemical equilibria, rates, redox, partitioning, ocean circulation, biological cycles and crustal exchanges.

      MARN 5995- Environmental Organic Chemistry (offered as needed)

      Three credits. Fundamental thermodynamic principles are used to understand the fate and transport of compounds in the environment. The structure of a compound and the physical condidtions which it is released will be control its ulitmate fate and the tools to predict this fate are reviewed. The course involves a significant amount of problem solving based on real-world scenarios.

      MARN 3000 -The Hydrosphere and Global Climate (offered every spring … note I am on sabbatical spring of 2015 and will not be teaching)

      Three credits. This course highlights the interactions of the hydrological, chemical and biological components of the hydrosphere via transport, reservoirs and dynamics of water in environmental systems

      Honors Received

      AWARDS & HONORS

      National Science Foundation Program Manager (IPA) – Polar Programs (2024 – current)

      Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering (March, 2022) Elected Fellow

      Fulbright Specialist (University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 2015), (University of Cartagena, Columbia 2018), (ETH, Switzerland 2022)

      Fulbright Specialist Roster (Apr., 2014, 2021) Council for International Exchange of Scholars

      Research Excellence Award (Apr., 2012) University of Connecticut Avery Point

      Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences (Mar., 2011) Inducted member

      Research Excellence Award (Apr., 2010) University of Connecticut Avery Point

      NASA Group Achievement Award (2009) National Aeronautic and Space Agency

      Chancellor’s Distinguished Dissertation Award (Oct, 2001) Univ. of Mass.

      Environmental, Coastal and Ocean Sciences Book Award (May, 2001) Univ. of Mass.

      Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service (May 1998) Univ. of Massachusetts

      Dissertation Proposal Award (May 1997) University of Massachusetts

      Chem03-PennyVlahos
      Contact Information
      Emailpenny.vlahos@uconn.edu
      Phone860-405-9269
      Fax860-405-9153
      Linkhttp://env.chem.uconn.edu/