About

Grace Wilson is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Her research focuses on water quality and soil health in urban and agricultural settings. She is currently working on projects related to the evaluation of goodness-of-fit statistic use in hydrologic and water quality models, modeling wind erosion in the US Midwest, analyzing water quality associated with silvopasture grazing management practices, and investigating water contamination resulting from structural fires. Her educational background includes a B.A. from Macalester College, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota. Her areas of interest encompass hydrologic modeling, soil health, and erosion prediction, and she teaches courses such as BBE 5513, ESPM 3111/5111, and BBE 4535. Her research contributions include simulating nitrate-N losses using the SWAT model, analyzing fertilizer timing and variable rate nitrogen impacts on nitrate–N losses, and predicting nitrate-nitrogen loads in subsurface drainage as a function of fertilizer application rate and timing.

Research topics

• Chemistry
• Engineering
• Biology
• Meteorology
• Medicine
• Materials science
• Agronomy
• Internal medicine
• Geography
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Chemical engineering
• Environmental science
• Organic chemistry
• Environmental chemistry
• Ecology

Selected publications

• Characterization and prediction of gross solids mass, organic matter, and total phosphorus in urban stormwater

  Water Science & Technology · 2025-09-11

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  ABSTRACT Gross solid materials carried in stormwater runoff can obstruct stormwater systems and transport nutrients and other pollutants to waterways. To characterize key drivers of the mass of gross solid delivered to stormwater systems and the amount of total phosphorus (TP) contributed by these solids, we collected these materials from the inlets of 13 stormwater control measures (SCMs) located in the Minneapolis – St. Paul metropolitan region in Minnesota, USA. Samples were collected from sampler devices during the years 2021–2022. Dry mass and mass organic matter (OM) were measured for all 420 samples collected, and 35% of all samples were analyzed for TP. A regression equation was developed to estimate TP mass for all samples based on measured OM. Additional analysis was performed to determine statistically significant factors that predicted the mass of gross solid material collected at each SCM. Annual dry mass, mass OM, and mass TP of the gross solid materials ranged from 6.1 to 76.9, 1.9 to 45.4, and 0.004 to 0.119 kg yr−1, respectively. The tree canopy area over the street was the best predictor of the annual dry mass, OM mass, and TP mass delivered at the SCMs, with R2 values of 0.44, 0.47, and 0.5, respectively.

  PublisherDOI

• Systemic Anticancer Therapy and Thromboembolic Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With Cancer and COVID-19

  JAMA Oncology · 2023 · 8 citations

  • Medicine
  • Internal medicine

  Importance: Systematic data on the association between anticancer therapies and thromboembolic events (TEEs) in patients with COVID-19 are lacking. Objective: To assess the association between anticancer therapy exposure within 3 months prior to COVID-19 and TEEs following COVID-19 diagnosis in patients with cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This registry-based retrospective cohort study included patients who were hospitalized and had active cancer and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data were accrued from March 2020 to December 2021 and analyzed from December 2021 to October 2022. Exposure: Treatments of interest (TOIs) (endocrine therapy, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors/tyrosine kinase inhibitors [VEGFis/TKIs], immunomodulators [IMiDs], immune checkpoint inhibitors [ICIs], chemotherapy) vs reference (no systemic therapy) in 3 months prior to COVID-19. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes were (1) venous thromboembolism (VTE) and (2) arterial thromboembolism (ATE). Secondary outcome was severity of COVID-19 (rates of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, 30-day all-cause mortality following TEEs in TOI vs reference group) at 30-day follow-up. Results: Of 4988 hospitalized patients with cancer (median [IQR] age, 69 [59-78] years; 2608 [52%] male), 1869 had received 1 or more TOIs. Incidence of VTE was higher in all TOI groups: endocrine therapy, 7%; VEGFis/TKIs, 10%; IMiDs, 8%; ICIs, 12%; and chemotherapy, 10%, compared with patients not receiving systemic therapies (6%). In multivariable log-binomial regression analyses, relative risk of VTE (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04-1.69) but not ATE (aRR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.56-1.16) was significantly higher in those exposed to all TOIs pooled together vs those with no exposure. Among individual drugs, ICIs were significantly associated with VTE (aRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.01-2.07). Also noted were significant associations between VTE and active and progressing cancer (aRR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01-2.03), history of VTE (aRR, 3.10; 95% CI, 2.38-4.04), and high-risk site of cancer (aRR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.14-1.75). Black patients had a higher risk of TEEs (aRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03-1.50) than White patients. Patients with TEEs had high intensive care unit admission (46%) and mechanical ventilation (31%) rates. Relative risk of death in patients with TEEs was higher in those exposed to TOIs vs not (aRR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.91-1.38) and was significantly associated with poor performance status (aRR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.30-2.40) and active/progressing cancer (aRR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.13-2.13). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, relative risk of developing VTE was high among patients receiving TOIs and varied by the type of therapy, underlying risk factors, and demographics, such as race and ethnicity. These findings highlight the need for close monitoring and perhaps personalized thromboprophylaxis to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19-related thromboembolism in patients with cancer.

  DOI

• Simulating the effect of perennialized cropping systems on nitrate-N losses using the SWAT model

  Frontiers in Agronomy · 2023-08-18 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Several newly released crop varieties, including the perennial intermediate wheatgrass (grain marketed as Kernza®), and the winter hardy oilseed crop camelina, have been developed to provide both economic return for farmers and reduced nutrient losses from agricultural fields. Though studies have indicated that these crops could reduce nitrate-nitrogen (N) leaching, little research has been done to determine their effectiveness in reducing nitrate-N loading to surface waters at a watershed scale, or in comparing their performance to more traditional perennial crops, such as alfalfa. In this study, nitrate-N losses were predicted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for the Rogers Creek watershed located in south-central Minnesota, USA. Predicted looses of nitrate-N under three perennialized cropping systems were compared to losses given current cropping practices in a corn ( Zea mays L.)-soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) rotation. The perennialized systems included three separate crop rotations: intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) in rotation with soybean, alfalfa in rotation with corn, and winter camelina in rotation with soybean and winter rye. Model simulation of these rotations required creation of new crop files for IWG and winter camelina within SWAT. These new crop files were validated using measured yield, biomass, and nitrate-N data. Model results show that the IWG and alfalfa rotations were particularly effective at reducing nutrient and sediment losses from agricultural areas in the watershed, but smaller reductions were also achieved with the winter camelina rotation. From model predictions, achieving regional water-quality goals of a 30% reduction in nitrate-N load from fields in the watershed required converting approximately 25, 34, or 57% of current corn-soybean area to the alfalfa, IWG, or camelina rotations, respectively. Results of this study indicate that adoption of these crops could achieve regional water quality goals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Kinetic and Thermodynamic Analysis of the Adsorption of Methylene Blue onto Biochar

  Journal of Chemical Education · 2023 · 14 citations

  • Chemistry
  • Chemical engineering
  • Environmental chemistry

  Millions of people do not have access to clean drinking water; thus, cost-efficient water treatment systems are vital. Chemists, environmentalists, technicians, and engineers will be the professionals making breakthroughs in this industry. This laboratory experiment aims to introduce undergraduate students to the removal of pollutants from water using biochar. Specifically, the study explores the kinetics and thermodynamics of methylene blue adsorption onto biochar using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. These general chemistry concepts can readily be observed in real time, as the blue color of the methylene blue solution decreases as it adsorbs on biochar. Students in a pilot course have shown their ability to relate thermodynamics and kinetics to the reaction mechanism in the form of a postlaboratory report.

  PublisherDOI

• Smoking and COVID-19 in patients with cancer: Novel analysis from CCC19 registry.

  Journal of Clinical Oncology · 2022-06-01

  article

  e18766 Background: Patients (pts) with thoracic cancers have a high rate of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Smoking has been associated with increased risk for severe COVID-19. However, there is limited data evaluating the impact of smoking recency on COVID-19 severity in pts with cancer. We aimed to characterize the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 based on the recency of smoking in pts with thoracic cancers (TC) and all other cancers (OC). Methods: Adult pts with cancer and lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 and smoking history recorded in the CCC19 registry (NCT0435470) were included. Pts were stratified by cancer type (TC or OC) and further stratified into subgroups based on the recency of smoking cessation: current smoker; former smokers who quit < 1 yr. ago; 1-5 yr. ago; 6-10 yr. ago; quit > 10 yr. ago; and never smoker. 30-day all-cause mortality was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were any hospitalization; hospitalization with supplemental O2; ICU admission; and mechanical ventilation. Results: From January 2020 to December 2021, 752 pts from TC group and 8,291 pts from OC group met the inclusion criteria. 78% of patients in TC group ever smoked compared to 36% patients in the OC group. In both groups, the majority of never-smokers were females (70% and 60% in TC and OC respectively). The burden of smoking and the rate of pulmonary comorbidities (PC) was higher in the TC group (PC 22-69%) compared to OC group (PC 12-26%) across all smoking strata. Overall, 30-day all-cause mortality was 21% and 11% in pts with TC and OC respectively. Former smokers who quit < 1 year ago in TC group had the highest rate of mortality and severe COVID-19 outcomes. However, in the OC group, there was no consistent trend of higher mortality or severe COVID-19 outcomes in specific subgroups based on smoking recency. Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the largest study evaluating the effect of granular phenotypes of smoking recency on COVID-19 outcomes in pts with cancer. Recent smokers who quit < 1 year ago in TC group had the highest rate of mortality and severe COVID-19. Further analysis exploring the factors (e.g., smoking pack years) associated with severe outcomes in this subgroup is planned.[Table: see text]

  PublisherDOI

• Predicting nitrate‐nitrogen loads in subsurface drainage as a function of fertilizer application rate and timing in southern Minnesota

  Journal of Environmental Quality · 2020 · 3 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Environmental science
  • Agronomy
  • Mathematics

  -N losses for a corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation in southern Minnesota, using fertilizer application timing and rate and growing season precipitation as inputs. The equations were developed using the results of the field-scale hydrologic and N simulation model DRAINMOD-NII, first calibrated and validated for three sites in southern Minnesota, and then run with different combinations of N fertilizer application rates and timings. Fertilizer timing treatments included a single application in the fall or spring and a split-spring application (half applied preplant and the remaining applied as sidedress). The predictive regression equations showed that the split fertilizer application timing could reduce regional N loads by 28% compared with spring or fall applications. Greater reductions were predicted when the split timing was combined with lower N fertilizer rates. Utilizing the split application timing and reducing the fertilizer rate by 10 and 30% showed 33 and 41% reductions in N loads, respectively, compared with current fertilizer management practices. Such reductions in fertilizer application rates could be achieved through the use of variable-rate nitrogen (VRN) fertilizer technologies. Results of this modeling study indicate that synchronizing fertilizer application with crop requirements and utilizing VRN technologies could significantly reduce N loads to surface waters in southern Minnesota.

  PublisherDOI

• Effects of fertilizer timing and variable rate N on nitrate–N losses from a tile drained corn-soybean rotation simulated using DRAINMOD-NII

  Precision Agriculture · 2019-05-18 · 12 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Modeling water quality effects of variable-rate nitrogen fertilizer application using DRAINMOD-NII and Development of a new statistical framework for evaluation of goodness-of-fit for hydrologic models

  University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy (University of Minnesota) · 2018-07-01

  dissertationOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation.July 2018. Major: Land and Atmospheric Science. Advisor: David Mulla. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 150 pages.

  Publisher

• Impacts of Variable Rate Nitrogen (VRN) on Nitrate-N Losses from Tile Drained Maize in Minnesota, USA

  Advances in Animal Biosciences · 2017-01-01 · 1 citations

  article1st author
  PublisherDOI

• Grass-fed beef in Southeast Minnesota: Evaluating potential water quality improvements with increased grass-fed beef production

  University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy (University of Minnesota) · 2012-01-01 · 1 citations

  dissertationOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. January 2012. Major: Applied plant sciences. Advisor:Paul Porter. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 99 pages, appendices A-C.

  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• Cy Wilkins

  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  5 shared

• Pamela Egan

  Brown University

  4 shared

• D. J. Mulla

  University of Minnesota System

  4 shared

• Dimpy P. Shah

  Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio

  3 shared

• Elizabeth J. Klein

  New York University

  3 shared

• Pankil Shah

  The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

  3 shared

• Stephanie Berg

  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

  3 shared

• Jeremy L. Warner

  3 shared

Awards & honors

• Distinguished Alumni Award