Professor Bergondo earned a B.A. in Chemistry (1996) from Franklin and Marshall College, M.E. in Ocean Engineering (1999) from Stevens Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography (2004) from the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography (URI-GSO). She was a postdoctoral investigator at URI-GSO from 2004 to 2007, where she did research on circulation in upper Narragansett Bay and the Providence River. Professor Bergondo has been a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy faculty since 2006. She teaches Oceans II: Land & Sea, Ocean Dynamics, Data Exploration and Visualization, Waves, Tides, & Coastal Process, and advises capstone research projects. Professor Bergondo’s has an active research program centered on microplastics in the Thames River and numerical model validation of oil spill response strategies.

Education

• Ph.D., Chemical Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, 2004
• M.E., Ocean Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, 1999
• B.A., Chemistry, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1996

Courses Taught

• Waves, Tides, & Coastal Processes
• Ocean Dynamics
• Oceans II: Land & Sea
• Data Exploration and Visualization
• Geospatial Sciences I
• Capstone Research

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Gower, K., B. Anderson, M. Huynh, C. Waters, E. Beauchemin, K. Mrakovcich, and D. Bergondo (2022) Analysis of Microplastic Abundance and Type in the Thames River Estuary, Connecticut, 2021-2022, Fall New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS) Meeting, Providence, RI, 18-29 November
• Polon, T., J. Rodriguez, E. Green, A. Valadez, K. O’Connor, M. Persun, and D. Bergondo (2022) A Multi-Criteria Analysis for Coast Guard Marine Pollution Geographic Response Strategies, GEOINT Symposium, Denver, CO, April 2022.
• Costello, G., F. Patacsil, K. Mrakovcich, and. D. Bergondo (2022) Analyzing the Effectiveness of Mussel Species as Microplastic Bioindicators in New England Coastal Environments, Ocean Sciences Meeting, 24 February- 4 March 2022, Virtual.
• McGrath, G., D. Bergondo and T. Wardwell (2021) OILMAP Validation of Geographic Response Strategies, Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research (ICCOPR) Special Meeting, December 10, 2021
• O’Connor, K., E. Green, A. Valadez, D. Bergondo and R. Prendergast, (2021) OILMAP Validation of Geographic Response Strategies, Sector Southeast New England Brief, December 2, 2021
• Polon, T., J. Rodriguez, D. Bergondo, R. Prendergast, (2021) Empire Wind Project: Preliminary Numerical Analysis of Oil Spill, Sector NY Brief, November 17, 2021
• D. Bergondo and R. Prendergast, (2021) OILMAP and ArcGIS provide qualitative validation of USCG Sector Geographic Response Strategies, District 9 Brief, November 8, 2021Arendt, S, J. FitzPatrick, M. Persun, R. Prendergast, and D. Bergondo (2021). OILMAP and ArcGIS provide qualitative and quantitative validation of USCG Sector Geographic Response Strategies, 2021 International Oil Spills Conference (IOSC), Virtual.
• Arendt, S, J. FitzPatrick, M. Persun, R. Prendergast, and D. Bergondo (2020). OILMAP and ArcGIS provide qualitative and quantitative validation of USCG Sector Geographic Response Strategies, Fall 2020 Rhode Island & Southeastern Massachusetts Area Committee Meeting, 8 December 2020, Virtual.

Honors and Awards

• U.S. Coast Guard Civilian Service Commendation Medal, 2020
• International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC) 2014 – Poster Committee
• Pacifico A. Colicci Award – University of Rhode Island (2004)
• Space Grant /Vettleson Fellowship – University of Rhode Island (2002- 2003)
• Germaine and Francis Webb Award – University of Rhode Island (2002)
• Robert Lloyd Scholarship (2000)
• Honors in Chemistry (1996)
• Hackman Scholar (1994-1996)

Professional Affiliations

• Coastal and Estuary Research Federation (CERF)
• New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS)
• The Oceanographic Society (TOC)
• US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)