Pfirman graduated from Roy C. Ketcham High School in New York and then received her B.A.
[2] Following her Ph.D. she worked at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and then the Environmental Defense Fund[2][3] where she was scientific coordinator for an exhibition on global warming that was presented at the American Museum of Natural History from May 1992 until January 1993.
[2] Pfirman is known for her research on Arctic sea ice and the impact of global warming.
[13] Pfirman has examined decreases in sea ice in the Arctic,[14] and developed games to teach people about global warming.
[15][16][17] Beyond academic research, Pfirman has examined how women make the decision to conduct Interdisciplinary research,[18] and suggested and co-chaired the River Summer program that brought teachers to do hands-on studies of the Hudson River.