Middlebury Joins PFAS Research Network

A $2.1 million National Science Foundation grant funds research into PFAS contamination across Vermont.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Chemistry

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Middlebury College received a $2.1 million National Science Foundation grant for PFAS research, part of a $7.9 million award to four Vermont colleges and partners. The PFAS Environmental Research Network will study contamination in Vermont's water and soil and its potential health risks.

Why it matters

PFAS are man-made chemicals that resist water, grease and oil, and their carbon-fluorine bonds do not easily degrade in soil, water or air. The project investigates potential contamination in groundwater and soil and the health risks it may pose to local communities across Vermont.

The NSF funded 8,377 projects from more than 43,532 applications in 2025, and the $7.9 million PFAS network award is split among four Vermont institutions. The actual scope of contamination and its health effects remain under study.

The players

Middlebury College

A private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, leading one of the state's PFAS research efforts.

National Science Foundation

The U.S. federal agency that funds basic scientific research and education across disciplines.

Bennington College

A private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont, receiving the largest share of the network award.

The details

Researchers will conduct aquatic sampling, explore health impacts and build a statewide database and statistical models to track PFAS. Chemical analysis will be performed at laboratories both inside and outside Middlebury College, within and outside Vermont.

2016: A local resident contacted Bennington College about perfluorooctanoic acid in drinking water.
2019: Middlebury began investigating wells near the Rutland airport after PFAS were discovered.
Sept. 29, 2026: Middlebury announced the $2.1 million NSF grant.

The Big Picture

The grant extends Middlebury's 2019 investigation of wells near the Rutland airport into a statewide, multi-institution effort. It also arrives as the Trump administration has ordered the NSF to terminate more than 2,000 grants and long-term programs.

Residents near contaminated sites in Vermont may see expanded water and soil testing as the statewide database is built. The research is aimed at identifying exposure risks in groundwater and soil used by local communities.

The takeaway

Because PFAS do not easily break down in soil, water or air, residents with private wells may want to ask local health officials about testing their water. Coordinated statewide monitoring is designed to make contamination patterns clearer over time.