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Ryan Emanuel

Associate Professor of Hydrology
Environmental Sciences and Policy
9 Circuit Dr., Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Ryan Emanuel is a hydrologist and community-engaged scholar from North Carolina. He studies ecohydrology, biogeosciences, environmental justice, and Indigenous rights. Emanuel leads a group of researchers and scholars who study water and watery places in North Carolina and beyond. His group also partners with Native American Tribes and other communities to understand environmental change through the lenses of environmental justice and Indigenous rights. Their work involves research, education, and relationship-building. Emanuel aims to amplify voices of Indigenous and other marginalized communities who shoulder disproportionate environmental burdens.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Hydrology · 2022 - Present Environmental Sciences and Policy, Nicholas School of the Environment

In the News


Published May 13, 2025
Trump supports full federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe. What does the path forward look like?
Published March 13, 2025
In North Carolina, Trump administration’s anti-climate deregulation agenda comes to a head
Published February 24, 2025
Can the Lumbee gain tribal recognition? Trump actions provide hope, but hurdles remain

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Recent Publications


Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Drivers of Microbial Contaminants in Hurricane Florence Floodwaters

Journal Article ACS ES and T Water · May 9, 2025 To strengthen our understanding regarding the signatures and drivers of floodwater contamination, this study aimed to investigate spatiotemporal patterns of pathogens, fecal indicator bacteria, and fecal biomarker detections, and identify the watershed cha ... Full text Cite

<i>Listeria tempestatis</i> sp. nov. and <i>Listeria rocourtiae</i> subsp. <i>hofi</i> subsp. nov.

Journal Article International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology · May 2025 In September 2018, Hurricane Florence resulted in major flooding in North Carolina, USA. Efforts to isolate Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. from Hurricane Florence floodwaters repeatedly yielded non-haemolytic Listeria-l ... Full text Cite

Internal Water Movement and Residence Time Differ in Two Tree Species in a Temperate Deciduous Forest: Evidence From an In Situ D2O Isotope Tracer Study

Journal Article Ecohydrology · April 1, 2025 To facilitate better predictive capabilities of hydrological fluxes in forested ecosystems, quantifying internal tree water movement at the tree species level is necessary. We measured short-term (daily) and long-term (weekly–monthly) water transport using ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Tribal Coastal Resilience Connections Phase II

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by NC Department of Environmental Quality · 2024 - 2025

THELORACS: Tree Health Evaluated using LiDAR, Optical, and Radar Applications across Coastal Systems

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Virginia - Charlottesville · 2022 - 2025

Collaborative Research: ER2 Incubation Project: A Pilot Study of Indigenous Perspectives on Ethical and Responsible Research

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2024 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Virginia · 2007 Ph.D.
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