Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski, Ph.D.
Dr. Elizabeth Tomaszewski is a Research Chemist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Dr. Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski is a Biogeochemist whose research aims to understand the coupling of carbon and metal cycles in environments affected by anthropogenic activity (i.e., energy and mining activities) and extreme climate events (i.e., flooding and wildfires). She studies how coupled cycles in these environments influence water quality and environmental health. Of particular interest are processes at the water-mineral interface and those mediated by microbial activity. Dr. Tomaszewski joined the U.S. Geological Survey in 2020 as a Physical Scientist in the Water Mission Area and moved to the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center in 2023 where she is currently a Research Chemist.
Professional Experience
Research Chemist, U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, 2023-present
Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 2020-2023
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Delaware, Soil and Environmental Chemistry, 2019-2020
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Tuebingen, Geomicrobiology, 2017-2019
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, 2017
B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, Major: Chemistry, Minor: Spanish, 2012
Science and Products
Biogeochemical Data Along a 11,000m Elevation Profile in the Boulder Creek Watershed, CO from 2021-2022
Biogeochemical processes are key drivers of chemical solubility and mobilization. Understanding these processes will lead to improved predictive capabilities and may aid with watershed management decisions. This data release presents results from the Boulder Creek, Colorado watershed, including analyses of water and sediment. From April to August 2019, water samples were collected weekly...
National scale assessment for rare earth elements in dissolved water samples and supporting geochemistry
This dataset is in support of the publication "The addition of 144Nd to routine ICP-MS analysis as a quick screening tool for approximating earth elements (Q-STAR) in natural waters". It contains inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data from samples analyzed at the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) from April 2021-May 2022. Data listed include estimated neodymium...
Substrate hardness and walleye (Sander vitreus) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) egg presence in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, before and after substrate cleaning experiments and walleye hatching success experiments, 2018-2019
These data include a field study of the sediment hardness and fish egg density (walleye [Sander vitreus] and lake whitefish [Coregonus clupeaformis]) after sediment cleaning treatments (propulsion sled or hydro-jet sled) conducted at two reef locations in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, during 2018 and 2019. The data includes the year, species, reef, treatment type (jet, fan, control), number...
State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H
Tropical cyclones (coastal storm events that include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) cause landscape-scale disturbances that can lead to impaired water quality and thus reduce water availability for use. Stakeholders and scientists at local and national scales have illustrated a need for understanding these risks to water quality. A regional and comprehensive...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Tara L. Root, Matthew D. Petkewich, MaryLynn Musgrove, Amy C. Gill, J. Curtis Weaver, Christopher H. Conaway, Bruce D. Lindsey, Francis Parchaso, Noah Knowles, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski
Knowledge gaps and opportunities for understanding water-quality processes affecting water availability for beneficial uses
This report describes scientific gaps that limit our ability to predict water-quality effects on water availability for beneficial uses across the United States. Water-quality constituents considered in the report include salinity, geogenic constituents, contaminants of emerging concern, and nitrogen. For each constituent, there is a selection of scientific gaps, approaches, and outcomes...
Prioritizing water availability study settings to address geogenic contaminants and related societal factors
Water availability for human and ecological uses depends on both water quantity and water quality. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing strategies for prioritizing regional-scale and watershed basin-scale studies of water availability across the nation. Previous USGS ranking processes for basin-scale studies incorporated primarily water quantity factors but are now considering...
Authors
Melinda L. Erickson, Craig J. Brown, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski, Joseph D. Ayotte, Sharon L. Qi, Douglas B. Kent, J.K. Böhlke
The addition of 144Nd atomic mass to routine ICP-MS analysis as a Quick Screening Tool for Approximating Rare Earth Elements (Q-STAR) in natural waters
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a class of critical minerals, all of which can have supply chain vulnerability that impacts economic security. These elements are widely measured in environmental matrices via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); however, successful quantification can require time-consuming, sample-specific optimization. While a sample-by-sample approach...
Authors
Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski, Zhouming Sun, Anthony J. Bednar
Science and Products
Biogeochemical Data Along a 11,000m Elevation Profile in the Boulder Creek Watershed, CO from 2021-2022
Biogeochemical processes are key drivers of chemical solubility and mobilization. Understanding these processes will lead to improved predictive capabilities and may aid with watershed management decisions. This data release presents results from the Boulder Creek, Colorado watershed, including analyses of water and sediment. From April to August 2019, water samples were collected weekly...
National scale assessment for rare earth elements in dissolved water samples and supporting geochemistry
This dataset is in support of the publication "The addition of 144Nd to routine ICP-MS analysis as a quick screening tool for approximating earth elements (Q-STAR) in natural waters". It contains inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data from samples analyzed at the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) from April 2021-May 2022. Data listed include estimated neodymium...
Substrate hardness and walleye (Sander vitreus) and lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) egg presence in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, before and after substrate cleaning experiments and walleye hatching success experiments, 2018-2019
These data include a field study of the sediment hardness and fish egg density (walleye [Sander vitreus] and lake whitefish [Coregonus clupeaformis]) after sediment cleaning treatments (propulsion sled or hydro-jet sled) conducted at two reef locations in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, during 2018 and 2019. The data includes the year, species, reef, treatment type (jet, fan, control), number...
State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H
Tropical cyclones (coastal storm events that include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) cause landscape-scale disturbances that can lead to impaired water quality and thus reduce water availability for use. Stakeholders and scientists at local and national scales have illustrated a need for understanding these risks to water quality. A regional and comprehensive...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Tara L. Root, Matthew D. Petkewich, MaryLynn Musgrove, Amy C. Gill, J. Curtis Weaver, Christopher H. Conaway, Bruce D. Lindsey, Francis Parchaso, Noah Knowles, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski
Knowledge gaps and opportunities for understanding water-quality processes affecting water availability for beneficial uses
This report describes scientific gaps that limit our ability to predict water-quality effects on water availability for beneficial uses across the United States. Water-quality constituents considered in the report include salinity, geogenic constituents, contaminants of emerging concern, and nitrogen. For each constituent, there is a selection of scientific gaps, approaches, and outcomes...
Prioritizing water availability study settings to address geogenic contaminants and related societal factors
Water availability for human and ecological uses depends on both water quantity and water quality. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing strategies for prioritizing regional-scale and watershed basin-scale studies of water availability across the nation. Previous USGS ranking processes for basin-scale studies incorporated primarily water quantity factors but are now considering...
Authors
Melinda L. Erickson, Craig J. Brown, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski, Joseph D. Ayotte, Sharon L. Qi, Douglas B. Kent, J.K. Böhlke
The addition of 144Nd atomic mass to routine ICP-MS analysis as a Quick Screening Tool for Approximating Rare Earth Elements (Q-STAR) in natural waters
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a class of critical minerals, all of which can have supply chain vulnerability that impacts economic security. These elements are widely measured in environmental matrices via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); however, successful quantification can require time-consuming, sample-specific optimization. While a sample-by-sample approach...
Authors
Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski, Zhouming Sun, Anthony J. Bednar