Senior Scientists

Dr. Kneeland is a senior environmental chemist with a diverse scientific background, including expertise in organic geochemistry, oceanography, and climate science.  At Gradient, she interprets chemical signatures to discern different sources of chemicals in the environment.  She also helps companies understand and comply with chemical regulatory requirements around the world.  Prior to joining Gradient, Dr. Kneeland taught environmental chemistry at Haverford College.  Her doctoral research involved identifying new chemical biomarkers of environmental stress in corals.  She also used chemical proxies from marine sediments to reconstruct ancient ocean temperature records and related those histories to known climate shifts.  Her scientific interests involve using chemical signatures to trace biological, chemical, and physical processes in the environment.

Product Stewardship:  Analyzed existing data and identified data gaps to support new chemical registrations in the US (TSCA), EU (REACH), Australia, Japan, and China.  Coordinated with commercial laboratories to obtain the necessary test data.

Cost Allocation:  Coordinated a large, multidisciplinary project to evaluate equitable cost allocation options on behalf of a group of cooperating parties.  Directed efforts to analyze site data, compile historical information, and consider risk assessments in the context of cost allocation among different chemicals, sites, and parties.

Chemical Forensics:  Performed a multivariate data analysis on organic contaminant data to differentiate potential pollutant sources in support of an equitable cost allocation at a Superfund site with a long and complex history of industrial activity.

TSCA New Owner Audit:  As part of a new owner's audit under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), reviewed a portfolio of chemical products for regulatory compliance.  Oversaw the collection and evaluation of product composition data, chemical-specific regulatory restrictions, import/export transactions, and regulatory filings.

Landfill permitting:  As part of a hearing regarding a proposed landfill expansion, evaluated potential impacts to surface water and groundwater from landfill leachate.  Reviewed data regarding leachate, groundwater, and surface water chemistry, in comparison to regulatory standards and permit conditions.  Prepared exhibits to be used in hearing testimony.

Forensics of Natural Gas Liquids:  Performed forensic analysis of hydrocarbons in fugitive NAPL to evaluate claims of recent spills at a closed natural gas processing facility.  Oversaw data analysis including ratio analysis and principal components analysis of PIANO data to compare hydrocarbon composition in groundwater monitoring wells to potential contamination sources.