Michaelah Wilson is an environmental chemist for the USGS Kansas Water Science Center Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory in Lawrence, KS.
Michaelah Wilson is an environmental chemist whose career is dedicated to studying the occurrence, transport, and fate of organic contaminants in the environment. She’s worked with a variety of matrices including water, soil, sediment, biosolids, manures, insect & plant tissues, and drill fluids. Michaelah has been with the OGRL since 2013, contributing to both the Water and the Ecosystems Mission Areas, providing crucial data to help assess the impacts of anthropogenic compounds on environmental and human health.
Other career interests: I enjoy working on DEIA and Environmental Justice efforts within the USGS, as well as participating in outreach events that may inspire the next generation of scientists! In the future, I would love to get more involved with studying the impacts of light pollution on environmental & human health.
Education and Certifications
M.S., 2018, Arizona State University, Major: Biomimicry
B.S., 2015, University of Kansas, Major: Chemistry
Certificate, 2009, Wildlife & Forestry Conservation and Management
Science and Products
Simultaneous stream assessment of antibiotics, bacteria, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistant genes in an agricultural region of the United States
Contaminant exposure and transport from three potential reuse waters within a single watershed
Detecting algal toxins and organic contaminants of concern in the environment
Influence of land use and region on glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in streams in the USA
Science and Products
- Publications
Simultaneous stream assessment of antibiotics, bacteria, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistant genes in an agricultural region of the United States
Antimicrobial resistance is now recognized as a leading global threat to human health. Nevertheless, there currently is a limited understanding of the environment's role in the spread of AMR and antibiotic resistant genes (ARG). In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted the first statewide assessment of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs in surface water and bed sediment collected frAuthorsCarrie E Givens, Dana W. Kolpin, Laura E. Hubbard, Shannon M. Meppelink, David M. Cwiertny, Darrin A. Thompson, Rachael F. Lane, Michaelah C. WilsonContaminant exposure and transport from three potential reuse waters within a single watershed
Global demand for safe and sustainable water supplies necessitates a better understanding of contaminant exposures in potential reuse waters. In this study, we compared exposures and load contributions to surface water from the discharge of three reuse waters (wastewater effluent, urban stormwater, and agricultural runoff). Results document substantial and varying organic-chemical contribution toAuthorsJason R. Masoner, Dana W. Kolpin, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Paul Bradley, Brian Arnall, Kenneth J. Forshay, James L. Gray, Justin F. Groves, Michelle Hladik, Laura E. Hubbard, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Jeanne B. Jaeschke, Rachael F. Lane, R. Blaine McCleskey, Bridgette F. Polite, David A. Roth, Michael Pettijohn, Michaelah C. WilsonByWater Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, California Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater LaboratoryDetecting algal toxins and organic contaminants of concern in the environment
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Kansas Water Science Center Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) was established in 1987. The OGRL is a multidisciplinary program that contributes knowledge about the distribution, fate, transport, and effects of new and understudied organic compounds that may affect human health and (or) ecosystems. The OGRL consists of two units: Algal and Other EnvirAuthorsJulie E. Dietze, Rachael F. Lane, Keith A. Loftin, Daniel L. Tush, Michaelah C. WilsonInfluence of land use and region on glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in streams in the USA
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the United States for agricultural and non-agricultural weed control. Many studies demonstrate possible effects of glyphosate and its degradate AMPA on human and ecological health. Although glyphosate is thought to have limited mobility in soil, it is found year-round in many rivers and streams throughout the world in both agricultural and developedAuthorsLaura Medalie, Nancy T. Baker, Megan E. Shoda, Wesley W. Stone, Michael T. Meyer, Edward G. Stets, Michaelah C. Wilson