Research Interests

Environmental analytical chemistry and applications of high resolution mass spectrometry to trace organic contaminant analysis
Environmental fate of per-and-polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment
Polymer additives and microplastics in the aquatic environment
Mechanisms of environmental endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms

Bio

Dr. Ferguson is an Environmental Analytical Chemist who joined Duke in 2009 after six years as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina.

Research in the Ferguson laboratory is focused on development and application of analytical methods for measuring organic pollutants in the environment. Specifically, a major thrust of research in the lab involves the application of high resolution mass spectrometry to detect, identify, and quantify emerging contaminants in wastewater and drinking water.  His recent work has centered on the development of non-targeted analysis workflows and methods, assessment of polyfluorinated alkyl substances in water and wastewater, and leaching and bioaccessibility of polymer-associated chemicals from microplastic particles in the aquatic environment.  He has published over 100 peer-reviewed chapters and journal articles, serves on advisory councils for several organizations focused on emerging pollutants in the environment, and has testified before the U.S. Senate on environmental health concerns related to nanotechnology.  In North Carolina, he helped lead the formation of the NC PFAS Testing Network to assess statewide drinking water contamination from PFAS chemicals.

Education

  • Ph.D. Stony Brook University, 2002

Positions

  • Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Associate Professor in the Division of Marine Science and Policy

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Applied Research Fellowship. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2022
  • Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow. National Academy of Sciences. 2011
  • Outstanding Performance Award. Fundamental Science Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 2003
  • President's Award to Distinguished Doctoral Students. Stony Brook University. 2002
  • Honorable Mention. National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Competition. 1998
  • U.S. EPA STAR Graduate Fellowship. Environmental Protection Agency. 1998
  • Belle W. Baruch Outstanding Undergrduate in Marine Science Award. University of South Carolina. 1997
  • Senior Scholars Scholarship. University of South Carolina. 1996
  • Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellow. University of South Carolina. 1996
  • Undergraduate Research Fellow, South Carolina EPSCoR. National Science Foundation. 1995

Courses Taught

  • MARSCI 573A: Coastal and Marine Pollution
  • MARSCI 393A: Research Independent Study
  • ENVIRON 899: Master's Project
  • ENVIRON 898: Program Area Seminar
  • ENVIRON 667: Chemical Transformation of Environmental Contaminants
  • ENVIRON 573A: Coastal and Marine Pollution
  • ENVIRON 566: Environmental Analytical Chemistry
  • ENVIRON 393A: Research Independent Study
  • CEE 667: Chemical Transformation of Environmental Contaminants
  • CEE 565: Environmental Analytical Chemistry

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Herkert, Nicholas J., Christopher D. Kassotis, Sharon Zhang, Yuling Han, Vivek Francis Pulikkal, Mei Sun, P Lee Ferguson, and Heather M. Stapleton. “Characterization of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances Present in Commercial Anti-fog Products and Their In Vitro Adipogenic Activity.” Environmental Science & Technology 56, no. 2 (January 2022): 1162–73. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c06990.
  • Overdahl, Kirsten E., David Gooden, Benjamin Bobay, Gordon J. Getzinger, Heather M. Stapleton, and P Lee Ferguson. “Characterizing azobenzene disperse dyes in commercial mixtures and children's polyester clothing.” Environ Pollut 287 (October 15, 2021): 117299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117299.
  • Walker, I., M. D. Montaño, R. S. Lankone, D. H. Fairbrother, and P. L. Ferguson. “Influence of CNT loading and environmental stressors on leaching of polymer-associated chemicals from epoxy and polycarbonate nanocomposites.” Environmental Chemistry 18, no. 3 (September 1, 2021): 131–41. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN21043.
  • Ulrich, Jake C., and P Lee Ferguson. “Development of a sensitive direct injection LC-MS/MS method for the detection of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in hard waters.” Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 413, no. 14 (June 2021): 3763–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03324-5.
  • Getzinger, Gordon, and Lee Ferguson. “High-Throughput Trace-Level Suspect Screening for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Environmental Waters by Peak-Focusing Online Solid Phase Extraction and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.” ACS ES&T Water, April 8, 2021.
  • Overdahl, Kirsten E., Rebecca Sutton, Jennifer Sun, Noelle J. DeStefano, Gordon J. Getzinger, and P Lee Ferguson. “Assessment of emerging polar organic pollutants linked to contaminant pathways within an urban estuary using non-targeted analysis.” Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts 23, no. 3 (March 2021): 429–45. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0em00463d.
  • Getzinger, Gordon J., Christopher P. Higgins, and P Lee Ferguson. “Structure Database and In Silico Spectral Library for Comprehensive Suspect Screening of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Environmental Media by High-resolution Mass Spectrometry.” Analytical Chemistry 93, no. 5 (February 2021): 2820–27. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04109.
  • Montaño, Manuel D., Keira Liu, Tara Sabo-Attwood, and P Lee Ferguson. “Analysis of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Estuarine Sediments by Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation Coupled to Near-Infrared Fluorescence Spectroscopy Reveals Disassociation of Residual Metal Catalyst Nanoparticles.” Environmental Science & Technology 55, no. 2 (January 2021): 1015–23. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c06058.
  • Getzinger, G. J., and P. L. Ferguson. “Illuminating the exposome with high-resolution accurate-mass mass spectrometry and nontargeted analysis.” Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health 15 (June 1, 2020): 49–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2020.05.005.