The foundation’s Quinnipiac River Fund was created “to improve the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River and the New Haven Harbor.”

McGinnis, a professor of biology, said her research project entails collecting water samples from locations in Hamden, Meriden, North Haven and Wallingford. McGinnis and a team of students will analyze the samples for the presence of pesticides, phthalates or plasticizers and other water quality parameters.

In addition, the funds will be utilized to support environmental clean-up efforts on state property bordering the Quinnipiac River in North Haven, McGinnis said.

“This scientific research is critical to understand the overall health of our rivers, while the clean-up efforts help to reduce the amount of pollution that makes its way into the river as runoff or as bulk during heavy rain events,” she said.