About

Kurt Pennell is the 250th Anniversary Professor of Engineering at Brown University. His research interests include groundwater remediation technologies, environmental toxicology, engineered nanomaterials, and the fate and transport of environmental contaminants. He has been recognized for his contributions through awards such as winning a pair of Best Papers from ES&T in 2024 and receiving significant research funding, including a $1.36 million award for in situ remediation of PFAS-impacted groundwater. Pennell is actively involved in advancing environmental engineering solutions and has been part of multi-center efforts to improve pharmacology and environmental health.

Research topics

• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental science
• Organic chemistry
• Medicine
• Chromatography
• Political Science
• Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Biology
• Medical education
• Genetics
• Telecommunications
• Chemical engineering
• Ecology
• Composite material
• Public relations
• Environmental planning
• Biochemistry
• Materials science
• Virology
• Environmental health
• Nuclear chemistry

Selected publications

• Quantifying PFAS-Omics Burden Scores for Nontargeted Analysis Using Multidimensional Item Response Theory: An Exploratory Analysis of Novel and Legacy PFAS in Cord Blood

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2026-02-18

  articleOpen access

  Fetal development is a vulnerable period for exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, certified analytical standards do not exist for many PFAS, limiting our ability to quantify overall exposure burden to PFAS as a chemical class. PFAS-focused nontargeted analysis (NTA) enables detection of PFAS for which chemical standards may not exist. The overall objectives of this study were to provide a more comprehensive picture of PFAS exposure in cord blood, develop cumulative exposure burden scores for the PFAS detected, and evaluate differences in the infant's PFAS burden score with respect to mother's parity. We measured PFAS using targeted and NTA methods in cord blood samples collected between 2003 and 2006 in the HOME Study (Cincinnati, Ohio). Using NTA, we putatively identified 42 PFAS in cord blood, 4 of which were also detected in targeted analysis. We summarized an infant's overall prenatal exposure burden to PFAS using item response theory methods. We constructed two scores, one based on PFAS concentrations from targeted analysis ("PFAS exposure burden scores"), and one based on relative abundance from NTA ("PFAS-omics scores"). As expected, infants with multiparous mothers had significantly lower PFAS exposure burden scores than those with nulliparous mothers, but these disparities were not present when comparing their PFAS-omics scores. Our results show that infants are exposed to a wide range of PFAS, including perfluorinated chemicals, polyfluorinated chemicals, and fluorotelomers, before birth. Further, PFAS-focused NTA can help estimate total exposure to PFAS. Lastly, reported disparities in PFAS exposure burden across parity may depend on the panel of assessed PFAS and their half-lives.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Candesartan cilexetil disrupts methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus membrane and potentiates gentamicin and polymyxin B activity

  Nature Communications · 2026-03-15

  articleOpen access

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of bacterial infections, but treatment options are limited due to MRSA multi-drug resistance. The anti-hypertensive drug Candesartan cilexetil (CC) exhibits potent anti-MRSA activity. It permeabilizes the membrane of MRSA cells and potentiates the activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Here, we used a variety of methods to elucidate the mechanism by which CC disrupts membrane homeostasis. We show that CC binds to bilayer lipid molecules, decreases membrane fluidity, down-regulates cell membrane and cell wall related genes and related metabolites, and decreases C20 fatty acids (C20:0). Decreasing C20:0 fatty acids confers CC- resistance, which can be reversed by C20:0 supplementation. Structural activity relationship analysis shows that the tetrazole ring and ester carbonic acid of CC are critical for antibacterial activity. Finally, CC reduces MRSA-MW2 replication in a murine MRSA abscess model, supporting a potential role of CC as a lead antimicrobial compound/potentiator against MRSA. In this work, authors show that candesartan cilexetil acts as a potent antibiotic potentiator, disrupting Staphylococcus aureus membranes and markedly enhancing the activity of clinically used antibiotics against drug-resistant infections.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• PFAS thermal treatment approaches and enhancement

  Nature Reviews Clean Technology · 2026-01-05 · 3 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Field-scale modeling of PFAS transport and transformation at a biosolids land disposal site

  Journal of Hazardous Materials · 2026-03-18

  articleOpen access

  Biosolids derived from wastewater sludge are ideal soil fertilizers because of their rich content of organic carbon and nutrients. However, biosolids can also contain elevated concentrations of contaminants, thus posing a risk to the environment when applied to the land as a disposal approach. This work presents and demonstrates a modeling approach to describe the reactive transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at land application sites. Consistent with state-of-the-art formulations for the fate and transport of PFAS in natural porous media, this approach incorporates unsaturated water flow and PFAS retention mechanisms that include sorption to the solid phase and competitive adsorption at the air-water interface. Furthermore, the model accounts for the phase-out of some of the compounds and the transformation of PFAS precursors. This work underscores the need to model the seemingly opposite effects that each biosolids applications can have on the PFAS availability in soils: the increase in total PFAS concentrations and the potential decrease of pore water levels due to an enhanced retention because of the organic carbon introduction. Overall, this work provides a data-driven modeling framework for predicting the long-term behavior of PFAS that can be used to inform management practices at biosolids-amended sites. • Biosolids applications increase PFAS levels and can enhance PFAS retention. • Modeling suggests precursor degradation is proportional to pore water concentrations. • Colloid-facilitated transport could potentially explain some of the field observations. • Solid-phase sorption could surpass adsorption at the air-water interface for most PFAS. • The use of laboratory-derived K oc values may underestimate in-situ sorption of PFAS.

  PublisherDOI

• Shea-derived cationic surfactants are effective and low-toxicity alternative co-surfactants for foam fractionation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

  Journal of Hazardous Materials · 2026-01-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Competitive adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on activated carbon: Impact of activated carbon and PFAS properties

  Journal of Hazardous Materials · 2026-02-12 · 2 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Effects of transient air-water interfacial area on PFOA transport in unsaturated soil

  Journal of Contaminant Hydrology · 2026-01-16 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be retained in the vadose zone for extended periods due to adsorption on soil and at the air-water interface (AWI). While adsorption to the AWI has been shown to slow PFAS leaching, the magnitude of interfacial area can fluctuate with precipitation events, leading to its reduction or collapse. The objective of this study was to investigate PFAS mass transfer from the AWI into mobile pore water in response to changes in water saturation, and to determine the corresponding effects on PFAS transport through the soil profile. To quantify these processes, a combination of batch experiments and water-saturated and unsaturated column studies were performed with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Appling soil. At 56% water saturation, the effluent PFOA breakthrough curve exhibited greater spreading than expected under equilibrium conditions, indicating rate-limited adsorption-desorption at the AWI. Under transient conditions, where the average water saturation increased from approximately 60% to 82%, the corresponding decrease in the AWI area led to a spike in effluent PFOA concentrations. These observations were accurately reproduced by a mathematical model that incorporated (1) symmetric rate-limited adsorption/desorption to/from the AWI, (2) regions of immobile water, as determined from non-reactive tracer data, and (3) a dynamic AWI area, as estimated using the Leverett model with a scaling factor. This work demonstrates the potential for precipitation events to temporarily increase PFAS leaching due to a reduction or collapse of the AWI and shows that these fluctuations can be predicted using an existing multiphase reactive transport simulator.

  PublisherDOI

• Hair care product use among pregnant women of color: protocol for a feasibility educational intervention

  Frontiers in Reproductive Health · 2026-01-22

  articleOpen access

  Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) disrupt hormonal regulation and pose health risks. Phthalates, common in personal care products, contribute to disparate chemical exposures among different demographic groups, notably impacting critical life stages like pregnancy and postpartum. Objective: Using an environmental health literacy framework, we designed an educational intervention for pregnant Women of Color to highlight the health risks of phthalates in hair care products. The intervention aimed to measure behavioral changes toward phthalate-free products through self-reporting and urinary phthalate metabolite levels and explore factors influencing hair care practices during pregnancy. Methods: In collaboration with multidisciplinary academicians, environmental health, and breast cancer advocates, we developed a virtual educational intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Components included a facilitated presentation, an educational video, and a semi-structured interview guide that was refined through feedback. Data collection involved baseline and follow-up sessions, sociodemographic data, hair product usage, behavior related to phthalate-containing products, and urine sample collection. To provide proof of methodological principle, we examined individual change over time from questionnaire data and targeted exposomics analysis of urinary phthalate compounds among women with baseline and follow-up data. Results: Educational materials were developed in English and Spanish. Enrollment occurred from March 2021 to June 2022, involving participants in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Women enrolled before 31 weeks gestation, completed a baseline assessment and at least one follow-up assessment, while those at ≥31 weeks gestation completed a baseline assessment and one postpartum follow-up assessment. Forty-six participants enrolled, with 31 completing the intervention, and 42 urine samples collected. Women who completed the educational intervention were slightly older than those women who did not attend an intervention session [mean age (SD) 31.0 (5.8) vs. 27.5 (5.4)], respectively. Product and brand use decreased over time, and portions of participants exhibited reductions in six different low molecular weight phthalate metabolites (27%-73% reductions). Significance: This intervention was shaped by a collaborative effort that ensured its cultural relevance, linguistic inclusivity, and alignment with community needs, amplifying its potential impact on reducing the unequal burden of environmental exposures in marginalized communities. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04493892.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Rapid Screening Method to Assess Formation Damage During Injection of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Sandstone

  Nanomaterials · 2026-03-26

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Many advances in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) take advantage of the unique properties of nanomaterials to improve characterization of formation properties, achieve conformance control during flood operations, and extend the controlled release time of polymers. Magnetite nanoparticles (nMag) have been employed in these processes due to their low cost, low toxicity, and ability to be engineered to meet desired needs, especially with the application of a magnetic field. Similarly, silica dioxide (SiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles have been evaluated for the delivery of scale and asphaltene inhibitors. However, the injection of nanoparticles into porous media comes with the risk of formation damage due to particle deposition, which can lead to increased injection pressures and reductions in permeability. The goal of this study was to develop a method to evaluate and assess nanoparticle formulations for their potential to cause formation damage. A screening apparatus was constructed to hold small sandstone discs (~2 mm) or cores (~2.5 cm) for rapid testing with minimal material use and the capability to be used with either aqueous brine solutions or non-polar solvents as the mobile phase. Image analysis of the disc and pressure measurements demonstrated increasing deposition of nMag and face-caking when the salinity was increased from 500 mg/L NaCl (8.56 mM) to API brine (2.0 M). Similarly, when the injected concentration of silica nanoparticles in 500 mg/L NaCl was increased from 1 to 10 wt%, the back pressure increased by 55 psi, and face-caking was observed. The screening test results were consistent with traditional core-flood tests and was able to be modified to accommodate organic liquid mobile phases. The screening test results closely matched nanoparticle transport and retention measured in sandstone cores, confirming the ability of the system to rapidly screen nanoparticle formulations for potential formation damage.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Remediation of groundwater contaminated with perfluoroalkyl acids and chlorinated ethenes using a microbial reductive dechlorination and sorptive material treatment train

  Water Research · 2025-06-10 · 4 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant K25ES014659

  NIH · $426k · 2010

• UNS: Collaborative Research: Effects of Nano-Bio Interactions on Nanoparticle Fate and Transport in Porous Media

  NSF · $272k · 2017–2021

• Laboratory Revitalization for Environmental Sustainability Research at Tufts University

  NSF · $1.6M · 2010–2013

• Impacts of Surface Coating Aging on Nanomaterial Fate and Transport in Porous Media

  NSF · $310k · 2012–2015

• Fate and Transport of Metal-Based Nanoparticles in the Subsurface

  NSF · $350k · 2009–2013

Frequent coauthors

• Linda M. Abriola

  Brown University

  253 shared

• Katherine E. Manz

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  144 shared

• Douglas I. Walker

  Emory University

  129 shared

• Natalie L. Cápiro

  Cornell University

  120 shared

• Dean P. Jones

  Emory University

  119 shared

• Karan Uppal

  93 shared

• C. Andrew Ramsburg

  Tufts University

  89 shared

• Frank E. Löffler

  University of Tennessee at Knoxville

  85 shared

Education

• Post-doctoral Fellow, Civil and Environmental Engineering

  University of Michigan

  1993

• PhD, Soil and Water Science

  University of Florida

  1990

• MS, Forest Resources

  North Carolina State University

  1986

• BS, Forest Resources

  University of Maine

  1984

Awards & honors

• Pennell wins pair of Best Papers from ES&T in 2024
• Pennell awarded $1.7M as part of greater Columbia University…
• Pennell awarded $1.36M for in situ remediation of PFAS-impac…
• Hazeltine Innovation Awards established; initial winners nam…
• Brown Engineers Awarded $2.5M for PFAS Research