Hilairy Hartnett is an oceanographer studying the microbial, chemical, and geothermal interactions in the ocean. She studies the carbon and nitrogen cycles within both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Her work further explores aquatic extremes, including deep sea hydrothermal conditions comparable to unique exoplanet environments.

Hartnett is a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration as well as the the School of Molecular Sciences and the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. 

Hartnett has over sixty peer-reviewed publications.