Projects

Active Projects:

QMRA IV – Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Vehicle: Addressing emerging global health risks:

An interdisciplinary program for training and mentoring in quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). This includes the development of the QMRA Wiki, an ever-evolving repository that shares quantitative information and knowledge about QMRA, which is intended to be an educational and research resource and database for the microbial risk assessment community.

Partners: Michigan State University and The Ohio State University

Funding Source: NIH (#R25GM135058)

Bacillus equivalence testing on fomites:

This project used equivalence testing to compare the persistence of Bacillus anthracis to B. atrophaeus, B. thuringiensis, and B. cereus on various surfaces to see which of the potential surrogates is the most appropriate for B. anthracis during the short-term and long-term persistence of each surface.

Partners: Michigan State University and Northern Arizona University

Development of a risk-based framework for prioritization of contaminants in drinking water:

Development of a risk-based prioritization framework for unregulated contaminants in drinking water to better prepare water utilities for addressing emerging water quality concerns in Michigan.

Partners: Michigan State University and Great Lakes Water Authority

Funding Source: Great Lakes Water Authority

Winning the race against competing risks: Optimizing drinking water disinfection to minimize opportunistic pathogen & DBP risks:

This project was terminated on 05/12/2025

Understanding and predicting the occurrence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and opportunistic pathogens (OPs), and the associated health risk tradeoffs posed by them in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) across the U.S.

Partners: Michigan State University, Clemson University, Garver, New York State, The College of New Jersey, Tulane University, Drexel University, and The Ohio State University

Funding Source: U.S. EPA (#84060401-0)

Salmonella equivalence testing in low moisture foods:

This project used equivalence testing to compare the persistence of Salmonella enterica to Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 on various low-moisture foods (peanut butter, almond flour, date paste, etc.) to confirm that E. faecium NRRL B-2354 can act as a surrogate.

Partners: Michigan State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Institute for Food Safety and Health, University of Georgia, and Washington State University

Expanding ethics in engineering education

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving curricula in undergraduate engineering education. The project engages many communities in understanding and building curriculum for undergraduate engineering ethics beyond the fundamentals explicitly required by engineering accreditation. 

Funding Source: NSF (22357-IUSE)

Previous Projects:

SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology - Wastewater Evaluation and Reporting (SEWER) network

Funding Source: Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services

Characterizing apple storage practices and potential risk of Listeria contamination

Funding Source: Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development

Quantifying risk associated with changes in EHEC physiology during post-harvest processing stages of leafy green production

Funding Source: Center for Produce Safety

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Instructional Institute (QMRA III)

Funding Source: NIH (#R25GM108593)

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Innovative Institute (QMRA II)

Funding Source: NSF PASI

Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA)

Funding Source: U.S. EPA and U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (Prime)