Imari Walker-Franklin
Curriculum Vitae
Research Triangle International
Research Chemist
Imariwalker.com
imariwalker@gmail.com / OCRID
CHRONOLOGY OF EMPLOYMENT
2022-present Research Natural Scientist I, RTI International, RTP, NC
2016-2021 Graduate Research Assistant, Duke University, NC
2016 Facilities Environmental Engineer, Intel, Santa Clara, CA
2013-2016 Undergraduate Researcher, University of California, Berkeley
2015 Undergraduate Researcher, Columbia University Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory,
2014 Undergraduate Researcher, University of California, San Diego SCRIPPS
2013-2014 Theme Program Resident Assistant, University of California, Berkeley
CHRONOLOGY OF EDUCATION
2016-2021 Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University. Research Advisor: P. Lee
Ferguson. Dissertation: “Release and transformation of polymer additives into aquatic systems from
plastics and nanocomposites”.
2021 Graduate Certificate, Certificate in college teaching, Duke University
2016-2019 Masters of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University. Thesis: ”Influence of CNT loading
and environmental factors on leaching of polymer additives from epoxy and polycarbonate
nanocomposites”
2011-2016 Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science, University of California Berkeley. Honors Thesis: “Quantification of
particulate inorganic carbon sedimentation using autonomous carbon flux explorer”
CHRONOLOGY OF OUTREACH
2022 Co-Social Chair, SETAC Nontarget 2022 Meeting
2018-2022 Chair, Gordon Research Seminar titled Environmental Science: Water
2021 Science Policy Student, Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic
2018-2019 Preparing For Future Faculty Fellow, Duke Graduate Program
2018-2019 Founder, Microplastics Collaboratory and Journal Club, Duke University
2017-2019 Graduate Student Mentor, Duke 8th Grade Sensor Saturday Engineering Academy
2016-2019 Workshop Committee Chair, Duke PhD Plus Professional Development Program
2016-2017 School of Engineering Liaison, Black Graduate Professional Student Association
2015-2016 Vice President, National Society of Black Engineers UC Berkeley Chapter
2015-2016 Student Coordinator, Bergeron Scholarship Program University of California, Berkeley
HONORS AND AWARDS
2022 President’s Award, RTI International
2022 Discovery Sciences Annual Award, RTI International
2022 Civil and Environmental Engineering Doctoral Scholar Award, Duke University
2021 Honorable mention, Merritt Science Communication Award, Duke University
2020 2nd Place Award, Society of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Student Science Communication Competition
2019 Engineer-In-Training (EIT) Certification, State of North Carolina Board of Examiners for Professional
Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
2018 Honorable mention, Ford Fellowship Predoctoral Award, Duke University
2016-2017 GEM Consortium Fellowship Award, Duke University
2015 Fall Dean’s List recipient, UC Berkeley
2015-2016 Selected as one of five female science majors for this scholarship, Bergeron Scholars Program, UC Berkeley
2013-2015 UC Leadership through advanced degrees Award, UC Berkeley
2012-2014 Cal Alumni Leadership Award, University of California Berkeley
2012-2013 Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar, University of California, Berkeley
Peer Reviewer for Journals:
2018 PLOS
Professional Memberships
2022-present Advisory Board Member of Beyond Plastics
2019-present American Society for Mass Spectrometry
2018-present Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
2017-present American Chemical Society
2015-present National Society of Black Engineers
2012-present Sigma Xi Research Honors Society
PUBLICATIONS
2023 Walker-Franklin, I. and Jambeck, J., 2023. Plastics Book. MIT Press. Plastics (mit.edu)
2021 Walker, I., Montano, M.D., Lankone, R.S., Fairbrother, D.H. and Ferguson, P.L., 2021. Influence of CNT loading and environmental stressors on leaching of polymer-associated chemicals from epoxy and polycarbonate nanocomposites. Environmental Chemistry, 18(3), pp.131-141. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN21043
2021 Hunter, B.*, Walker, I.*, Lassiter, R., Lassiter, V., Gibson, J.M., Ferguson, P.L. and Deshusses, M.A., 2021. Evaluation of private well contaminants in an underserved North Carolina community. Science of the Total Environment, 789, p.147823. *Co-first authorship. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147823
CONFERENCES/SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
Invited Lectures/Seminars:
2023 Walker-Franklin, I. “Risks of Microplastics in Freshwater Systems.” Groundwater Resources Association of California Meeting Speaker Walker Karega, I. “Microplastic Pollution: New Research & Impacts on Communities.” Waterkeepers Alliance Seminar Speaker
2021 Walker Karega, I. “Potential endocrine disrupting effects of microplastics in aquatic life.” Collaborative on Health and the Environment Webinar Speaker
2021 Walker Karega, I. “Release and Transformation of Polymer Additives into Aquatic Systems from Plastics and Nanocomposites.” Triangle Area Mass Spectrometry Seminar Speaker
2021 Walker Karega, I. “Release and transformation of polymer additives into aquatic systems from plastics and nanocomposites.” Columbia University Seminar Speaker
2020 Walker Karega, I. “Release and transformation of polymer additives into aquatic systems from plastics and nanocomposites.” NCSU Seminar Speaker
2020 Walker Karega, I. “Release and transformation of polymer additives into aquatic systems from plastics and nanocomposites.” Eastern NCU ACS Diversity Series Seminar Speaker
Science Communication Experience:
2021 Invited speaker for Ocean Plastics Leadership Network: Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution Dialogue
2021 Invited panelist for Plastic Pollution Coalition: Unwoven: Phasing Plastic Out of Fashion Webinar
2021 Invited panelist for Circularity 21 :The Nexus of Public Health and Plastic
2020 Interview on Science Tonight Microplastics in our Air, Water, and Bodies, NC Museum of Natural Sciences
2020 Interviewed for Important Not Important Podcast, Ep. 93
2020 Invited panelist for Plastic Pollution Coalition Plastic Free President Press Conference
2020 Invited panelist for NYC Bar Association Microplastics Conference
2020 Invited panelist for Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources climate workshop
2020 Created YouTube Science Communication Channel titled: Imari Walker
News Article Features/Mentions:
2022 Featured. “This chemist uses online videos to teach about the perils of microplastics”. Science News Explores
2022 Mentioned. “The five myths of plastics” Washington Post
2021 Mentioned. “The plastics you throw away are poisoning the worlds eggs.” National Observer
2021 Featured. “Women Leading the Plastic Revolution” World Wildlife Fund
2020 Featured. “Duke Celebrates Women and Girls in Science Day.” Duke Dep. of Chemistry
2020 Mentioned. “Polluting microplastics harm both animals and ecosystems.” Science News Explores
2020 Featured. “Imari Walker is on a mission to protect our health from microplastics.” Duke Daily
2020 Featured. “Water Bottles: Canceled.” Duke Pratt School of Engineering
Teaching Experience:
Duke University:
2019 Walker Karega, I. “Microplastics in the environment”. Invited presentation in
Environmental chemistry and toxicology, ENV360
2019 Teaching Assistant for Spring Chemical Transformations, CEE662
2019 Teaching Assistant for Aquatic Chemistry, CEE461 and CEE561/ENV462
2019 Walker Karega, I. “Air water partitioning” Guest Lecture in Aquatic Chemistry, CEE461
International/National Presentations:
2022 Walker Karega, I and Ferguson, P. “The Fate of Polypropylene and Polyurethane Microplastic-Associated Chemicals in
a Freshwater Laboratory and Mesocosm Study.” Oral Presentation at SETAC Nontarget Analysis for Environmental Risk
assessment Meeting, Durham, NC
2022 Walker Karega, I., Berger, P, Manalis, N, Brenner, S, Dombek, T. “The Occurrence of Water-Soluble Organic Pollutants in PM2.5
Collected During Wildfire Events in the Western United States.” Poster Presentation at Gordon Research Conference:
Environmental Science: Water, Holderness, NH
2021 Walker Karega, I and Ferguson, P. “The Fate of Polypropylene and Polyurethane Microplastic-Associated Chemicals in a
Freshwater Laboratory and Mesocosm Study.” Oral Presentation at Society of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology,
Virtual
2020 Walker Karega, I. “Using nontargeted analysis to understand additive leaching from
polyurethane and polypropylene microplastics” Platform Presentation at Society of Environmental
Chemistry and Toxicology (SETAC) Conference, Virtual
2020 Walker Karega, I. “Using nontargeted analysis to understand additive leaching from polyurethane
and polypropylene microplastics” Platform Presentation at American Chemistry Society (ACS) Conference, Virtual
2020 Walker Karega, I. “Release and transformation of polymer additives into aquatic systems from
plastics and nanocomposites” NC State CCEE Seminar, Virtual
2020 Walker Karega, I. and Lewis, A. “Microplastics in the Environment” NC Coastal Riverkeepers Marine
Debris Symposium, Beaufort, NC
2019 Walker Karega, I., Montano, M, and Ferguson, P. “The influence of ultraviolet light on
release of polymer additives from epoxy-CNT nanocomposites.” Poster Corner
Presentation at Society of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology (SETAC)
Conference, Toronto, CA
2018 Walker Karega, I., Montano, M, and Ferguson, P. “Influence of ultraviolet light (UV),
natural organic matter (NOM), pH, and temperature on leaching of Bisphenol A from
carbon nanotube (CNT) polymer composites in water.” Poster Presentation at Gordon
Conference: Environment: Water Sciences, Holderness, NH
2018 Walker Karega, I., Montano, M, and Ferguson, P. “Influence of ultraviolet light (UV),
natural organic matter (NOM), pH, and temperature on leaching of Bisphenol A from
carbon nanotube (CNT) polymer composites in water” Poster Presentation at Center
for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology Conference, Duke University,
Durham NC
2018 Walker Karega, I., Montano, M, and Ferguson, P. “Leaching of bisphenol A from epoxy
- carbon nanotube (CNT) polymer composites in water: Influence of UV light exposure
and polymer particle size” Poster Presentation at Microplastics Conference, Ascona,
Switzerland
2018 Walker Karega, I., Montano, M, and Ferguson, P. “Leaching of bisphenol A from epoxy
- carbon nanotube (CNT) polymer composites in water: Influence of UV light exposure
and polymer particle size” Poster Presentation at Society of Environmental Chemistry
and Toxicology Conference, Sacramento, CA
2016 Walker Karega, I., Bishop, J.” Quantification of particulate inorganic carbon
sedimentation using autonomous Carbon Flux Explorer.” Marine Science Department
Honors Thesis Presentation, UC Berkeley, CA
2015 Walker Karega, I. D’Andrea, W. “Understanding alkenone production within algae
grown at varied temperature and light conditions.” Poster Presentation at American
Geophysics Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA
2015 Walker Karega, I. D’Andrea, W. “Understanding alkenone production within algae
grown at varied temperature and light conditions.” Poster Presentation at Sigma Xi,
Kansas City, MO
2015 Walker Karega, I. D’Andrea, W. “Understanding alkenone production within algae
grown at varied temperature and light conditions.” Poster Presentation at LDEO
Summer Intern Symposium, New York City, NY
2015 Walker Karega, I., Mishler, B. Stillman, J. “Macroinvertebrate succession on
decomposing Turbinaria ornata on the shores of Moorea, French Polynesia.” Poster
Presentation at UC Leadership through Advanced Degrees (LEADs) Conference,
Merced, CA
2015 Walker Karega, I., Mishler, B. Stillman, J. “Macroinvertebrate succession on
decomposing Turbinaria ornata on the shores of Moorea, French Polynesia.” Poster
Presentation at California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) Conference,
Received honorable mention award, Irvine, CA
2014 Walker Karega, I., Mishler, B. Stillman, J. “Macroinvertebrate succession on
decomposing Turbinaria ornata on the shores of Moorea, French Polynesia.”
Presentation at UC Berkeley Moorea Class Research Presentation, Berkeley, CA
2014 Walker Karega, I. Aluwihare, L. “Creating a Standard Curve using Polar Lipids of
Spinach to Quantify cyanobacteria along the water column of the Tonga Trench.”
Presentation at UC San Diego Summer Undergraduate research Symposium, San
Diego, CA
2014 Walker Karega, I. Jordan-Thaden, I. “Comparing seed germination and viability
between the polynploid hybrids and diploid parents of the Tragopogon species.”
Poster Presentation at UC LEADS Conference, Riverside, CA
2014 Walker Karega, I. Jordan-Thaden, I. “Comparing seed germination and viability
between the polynploid hybrids and diploid parents of the Tragopogon species.”
Poster Presentation at California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP)
Conference, Received honorable mention award, Irvine, CA
2013 Walker Karega, I. Jordan-Thaden, I. “Comparing seed germination and viability
between the polynploid hybrids and diploid parents of the Tragopogon species.”
Poster Presentation at Sigma Xi National Conference, Raleigh, NC
2013 Walker Karega, I. Jordan-Thaden, I. “Comparing seed germination and viability
between the polynploid hybrids and diploid parents of the Tragopogon species.”
Poster Presentation at UC Berkeley Summer Research Symposium, Berkeley, CA