Jennifer Cole

Program Director, Environmental Studies
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
14 Holmes Hall
Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
Office: 617.373.3039
j.cole @neu.edu

Education

Ph.D. Syracuse University, Hydrogeology, 1999
(M.S. thesis research), Smith College 1993 – 1995
M. S., Bard College Environmental Science, 1995
B. S., University of Massachusetts Environmental Science, 1990
A. A., Simon’s Rock College Liberal Arts, 1988

Faculty Research

Teaching Experience

  • Director, Environmental Studies Program, and Academic Specialist, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Northestern University, Summer 2000 – present
    Courses: Hydrogeology, Hydrogeology Laboratory, Groundwater Geochemistry, Groundwater Geochemistry Laboratory, Groundwater Modeling, Marine Resources, Physical Oceanography, Biological Oceanography, Dynamic Earth, Dynamic Earth Laboratory, Environmental Geology, Natural Disasters and Catastrophes, Environmental Science, An Introduction to College, Eathing and the Environment, Environmental Pollution, Senior Thesis, Environmental Science Directed Study
  • Adjunct Academic Specialist, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Fall 2004 – present
    Courses: Engineering Geology (graduate level)
  • Lecturer, Tufts University, Spring 2001
    Courses: Hydrogeology, Hydrogeology Laboratory
  • Lecturer, Syracuse University, Syracuse New York 8/98 –5/99
    Courses: Physical Geology
  • Instructor, University College, Syracuse, New York 8/96 – 5/97
    Courses: Physical Geology, Historical Geology
  • Tutor and Mentor, Syracuse University Football Program 5/94-12/97
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University 8/94 – 5/96
    Courses: Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, Earth Science, Earth History
  • Student Project Supervisor, Possum Point Biological Station, Belize, Central America 1/93 under the auspices of the Five Colleges Coastal and Marine Science program

Consulting Experience

  • Town of Hingham, MA Conservation Commission 5/03 – present
    Town Hydrogeologist and Expert Witness
  • Wetlands WPI, Amesbury, MA 1/05 present
    River Protection Act dispute
  • Town of Foxborough 7/04
    Consultant for private landowner
  • Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. 1/99 – 6/00
    Senior Hydrologist
  • Stearns & Wheeler, Syracuse New York 4/96
    X-Ray Diffraction Analyst
  • The Nature Conservancy, Pennsylvania 5/96, 8/97
    Subconsultant (chemically characterized waters from seeps and springs, northeastern US)

Selected Publications

  • Rivers Cole, J. & P. Rosen (2007) The Northeastern University Campus Wells Program: A Model for Applied Learning. Journal of Geological Education (accepted).
  • Chasar, L. S. ; Chanton, J. P. ; Glaser, P. H. ; Siegel, D. I. ; Rivers, J. S. 2001, Radiocarbon and stable carbon isotopic evidence for transport and transformation of dissolved organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, and CH4 in a northern Minnesota peatland, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 14, p. 1095-1108.
  • J. S. Rivers, D. I. Siegel, P. H. Glaser, L. S. Chasar, and J. P. Chanton (1998) A stochastic appraisal of the annual inorganic and organic carbon budget of a large circumboreal peatland, Rapid River watershed, northern Minnesota. Global Biogeochemical Cycles12,4:715 – 727.
  • J.S. Rivers & P. Peckol (1995) Interactive effects of nitrogen and dissolved inorganic carbon on photosynthesis, growth, and ammonium uptake of the macroalgae Cladophora vagabunda and Gracilaria tikvahiae. Marine Biology 121:747-753.
  • J.S. Rivers& P. Peckol (1995) Summer Decline of Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) in a eutrophic embayment: interactive effects of temperature and nitrogen availability? Journal of Phycology 31:223-228.
  • P. Peckol & J.S. Rivers (1995) Physiological responses of the opportunistic macroalgae Cladophora vagabunda (L.) van den Hoek and Gracilaria tikvahiae (MacLachlan) to environmental disturbances associated with eutrophication. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 23:122-127.
  • P. Peckol & J.S. Rivers (1995) Contribution by macroalgal mats to primary production of a shallow embayment under high and low nitrogen loading rates. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science 44:451-465.
  • P. Peckol, B. DeMeo-Anderson, J. Rivers, I. Valiela, M. Maldonado, & J. Yates (1994) Growth, nutrient uptake capacities and tissue constituents of the macroalgae, Cladophora vagabunda and Gracilaria tikvahiae, related to site-specific nitrogen loading rates. Marine Biology 121:175-185.
  • Chasar, L. S. ; Chanton, J. P. ; Glaser, P. H. ; Siegel, D. I. ; Rivers, J. S. 2001, Radiocarbon and stable carbon isotopic evidence for transport and transformation of dissolved organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, and CH4 in a northern Minnesota peatland, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 14, p. 1095-1108.
  • J. S. Rivers (1994) Dissolved inorganic carbon and pH as factors influencing the photosynthetic performance and growth of the macroalgae Cladophora vagabunda, Gracilaria tikvahiae, and Ulva lactuca. Master’s Thesis, Bard College, Annandale-on-the-Hudson, NY.

Manuscripts In Preparation

  • J. S. Rivers Cole, D. I. Siegel, P. H. Glaser, L. S. Chasar, J. P. Chanton, and D. O. Rosenberry (in prep) Transient changes in porewater chemistry in a large raised bog and a fen, Glacial Lake Agassiz peatlands, northern Minnesota. (for Biogeochemistry)
  • J. S. Rivers Cole & D. I. Siegel (in prep) CT and MRI analyses of the material properties of peat: new insights into mathematical descriptions of groundwater flow. (for Wetlands)
  • D. I. Siegel, P. H. Glaser, J. S. Rivers Cole, L. Stalder-Chasar, J. Chanton, D. Rosenberry, B. Anderson, and S. Posten (in prep) Deuteration of water by methanogenesis in bog peat: implications for carbon cycling in peatlands in and other organic rich systems. (for Nature)
  • D. I. Siegel, P. H. Glaser, J. S. Rivers Cole, and D. O. Rosenberry (in prep) The stable isotopic content of peatland pore water: deuteration of water by methanogenesis and source characterization. (for Journal of Hydrology)
  • D. I. Siegel, S. Kitchens, and J. S. Rivers Cole, (in prep) Anthropogenic trace metal constituents of the Okefenokee Swamp. (for Wetlands)
  • J. H. So, D. I. Siegel, P. H. Glaser, and J. S. Rivers Cole (in prep) Geochemical evidence for surface water and groundwater mixing in the Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatlands, northern Minnesota. (for Journal of Hydrology)

Published Abstracts of Professional Presentations

  • Rivers Cole, J. S. 2007. : Bringing the Natural World into the Curriculum: Back Bay Groundwater Monitoring and Declining Water Levels (abs). Proceedings, Environmental Studies Summit, 2nd Annual Meeting, SUNY – Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, June 7.
  • Rivers Cole, J. S., Rosen, P. S. (2007) Back Bay Groundwater Monitoring and Declining Water Levels (abs.), in, Faszewski, E. (ed.), Proceedings, Muddy River Research Symposium, Wheelock College, April 25.
  • Rosen, P. S. and Rivers Cole, J. S. (2007) Changing Environmental Conditions Recorded in Back Bay Sediments, Boston, MA (abs.), in, Faszewski, E. (ed.), Proceedings, Muddy River Research Symposium, Wheelock College, April 25.
  • Rivers, J. S.1999. Probabilistic Analysis of Dam Failure: Coupling Dam Models in Dudley, MA. 1999 Mid-Atlantic Council for Dam Safety Converence. Proceedings Vol. 23, No. 2. p. 16
  • Rivers, J. S. 1998. Shallow aquitards in peat in the red lake peatlands, northern Minnesota. 1998 GSA National Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Proceedings of the Geological Society of America, Vol. 155, No. 8, p. 322.
  • Rivers, J. S. 1998. Using Computed Tomography to Evaluate Solute Transport and the Material Properties of Peat. 1998 GSA National Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Proceedings of the Geological Society of America, Vol. 155, No. 8, p. 326.
  • Rivers, J. S. 1998. Temporal Nutrient Dynamics Associated with Groundwater Flow Regimes in a Bog and a Fen, Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatlands, Northern Minnesota, American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, Boston, MA, EOS, Transactions, Vol. 79, No. 17, p. S103.
  • Rivers, J. S. 1998. Visualization and Quantification of Gas Bubbles Observed in-situ in Peat Cores Using MRI and CT Scans, American Geophysical Union National Meeting, Boston, MA EOS, Transactions, Vol. 79, No. 17, p. A320.
  • Rivers, J. S. 1997. A Stochastic Appraisal of the Annual Carbon Budget, Rapid River Watershed, Northern Minnesota GSA National Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, Proceedings of the Geological Society of America, Vol. 154, No. 4, p. 885.
  • Rivers, J. S. 1997. Transient Changes in the Porewater Chemistry of a Large Raised Bog and a Fen, Glacial Lake Agaissiz Peatlands, Northern Minnesota, AGU National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, EOS, Transactions Vol. 78, No. 11 p. S212.
  • Rivers, J. S. 1997. Coupling a 3-D Groundwater Flow Model for the Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatlands to Global Positioning System Data AGU National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, EOS, Vol. 228, p. 657.
  • Rivers, J. S. 1997. Vertical Oscillations in the Land Surface of Northern Peatlands Determined by Global Positioning Systems: A Physical Expression of Climate Change and Methane Cycling, AGU National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, EOS, Vol. 228, p. 652. (1997)
  • Rivers, J. S. 1996. Physiological Response of Opportunistic Macroalgae to Environmental Disturbance New England Algal Society National Meeting, Proceedings of NEAS, Vol. 21, p. 238.

Unpublished Talks

  • Rivers Cole, J.S. and Douglass, D. 2007. Climate Change; Science and Solutions. Northeastern University HEAT Symposium.
  • Greenberg, S., and J. Rivers Cole. 2006. Integrated Pest Management: Eating and the Environment. 2007 Northeastern University Honors Program Junior-Senior Poster Display. p. 101.
  • A Stochastic Appraisal of the Annual Carbon Budget, Rapid River Watershed, Northern Minnesota, Northeastern University Dept of Geology Seminar (2001)
  • How to Succeed and Excel in Graduate School (Invited talk) Bard College Environmental Sciences Seminar Series (1995)
  • Macroalgal Physiological Response to Eutrophication of Estuarine Waters Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Research Day (1995)
  • Interactive Effects of Nitrogen and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon on Photosynthesis, Growth, and Ammonium Uptake of the Macroalgae, Cladophora vagabunda and Gracilaria tikvahiae Smith College Lunchtime Seminar Series (1994)

Research Experience

Research Assistant, Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University 5/95 – 12/99
lab supervision, lab analyses, proposal writing, field work, manuscript preparation

Research Associate, Department of Biology, Smith College/ Woods Hole MBL 8/92-8/94
LMER- NSF grant studying the effects of eutrophication in estuarine systems in Falmouth MA

Research Assistant, Dept. of Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 1/90-5/90 classifying Dipteran larvae from the Belchertown, MA sewage treatment plant

Research Assistant, Department of Systematics, Cornell University 5/89
studying the biotic composition of the Hudson River, Poughkeepsie, NY
Research Assistant, Biology Department, Simon’s Rock College 2/89-9/89
studying the larval fish population of tributaries to the Hudson River

Research Assistant, Natural Science Department, Simon’s Rock College 5/88
on a study to determine the effects of raw sewage on the William’s River in W. Stockbridge, MA

Honors And Grants

  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Northeastern University 2005
  • Presidential Aspiration Award, Northeastern University 2001
  • StudyWeb Academic Excellence Award for Web Notes of Natural Disasters Course
    Class Notes
  • Nominated for Excellence in Teaching Award, Northeastern University 2001
  • Teaching Fellow – Center for Effective University Teaching, Northeastern University 2000
  • Association for Women in Science Travel Grant to Toronto, Canada 1999
  • Newton E. Chute Award for Outstanding Graduate Student of the 1997-98 Academic Year
  • Research Assistantship, Syracuse University 1996 – present
  • Teaching Assistantship, Syracuse University 1994 – 1996
  • Graduate Student Association grant for travel to National AGU meeting, San Francisco, CA
  • Tuition Scholarship for Ph.D. studies at Syracuse University 1994-1996
  • Graduate Student Association grant for travel to National GSA meeting, New Orleans, LA
  • Howard Hughes fellowship for research support in Belize, Central America
  • Bard Fellowship grants for tuition 1990, 1992, 1993
  • Cutter House Fellow, Smith College

Safety Training

  • MA HAZWOPER 40-hour certification
  • OSHA safety training Laboratory Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450
  • OSHA Hazardous Waste Workers and Emergency Response, 1910.120
  • MA Medical and Biological Waste Disposal, 105, CMR 480.00
  • MA Hazardous Waste, 310 CMR 30.00
  • NY Radiation Safety Training, Laboratory

Skills

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Windows, word processors, spreadsheets, statistical analysis packages, databases, MS-DOS, VAX operations, graphics applications
  • Familiarity with Apple word processors, spreadsheets, statistical analysis packages, databases
  • Knowledge of FORTRAN computing language
  • Familiarity with X-Ray diffraction techniques, Direct Current Plasma Spectroscopy, High Performance Liquid Chromatography Workstations
  • SCUBA certified (NAUI Openwater I)
  • Familiarity with salinometers, spectraphotometers, CHN elemental analyzers, autobalances, light meters, centrifuges, oxygen evolution monitoring systems, pH and conductivity meters
  • Familiarity with wet chemical analyses (e.g., NH4, NO32-, PO4, tissue-P)
  • Capability of classifying wetland and terrestrial plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates

Professional Affiliations

  • Geological Society of America
  • American Geophysical Union
  • National Groundwater Association
  • NE Estuarine Research Society
  • American Chemical Society
  • Boston Society of Civil Engineers
  • Society for Women Engineers
  • Associate Member, Sigma-Xi Scientific Society
  • Association for Women in Science
  • International Society for Ecological Economics

Service

  • Faculty Fellow, White Hall
  • Faculty Advisor, Northeastern University Terra Society
  • Teaching Circle Fellow, Dean’s Office, Northeastern University
  • College Council Member, Northeastern University
  • Experiential Education Cooperative Committee Member, Northeastern University
  • Reviewer for Botanica Marina journal
  • Reviewer for Prentice Hall publishing company (ten textbooks)
  • Reviewer for the journal Wetlands
  • Reviewer for Journal of Hydrology
  • Reviewer for Water Resource Research
  • Photographer for Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences
  • Smith College Administrative Grievance Committee
  • Boston Museum Science-by-Mail Mentoring Program
  • Graduate Student Representative to the Faculty, Syracuse University Earth Sciences Dept.
  • Judge for Greater Syracuse Scholastic Science Fair
  • Graduate Student Organization Representative Earth Sciences Department, Syracuse University