Tiong Gim Aw, PhD                                                     Principal Investigator

https://medium.com/@mbondarenko_82932/tiong-aw-a-scholar-of-public-health-water-7b624f2aa628

Dr. Tiong Aw is a public health microbiologist with diverse training background including environmental engineering, microbiology, virology and bioinformatics. His research interests lie at the intersection of molecular microbial ecology, water quality and human/environmental health. His current research program focuses on data-driven discovery and the integration of biological big data towards the study of microbiome in natural and engineered water systems and their impacts on our environment and health. His other areas of expertise include rapid detection of waterborne and foodborne pathogens by advanced molecular techniques, fate and transport of viruses in urban water catchments and microbial source tracking. He is keen to bring scientific discovery and translational research to the water industry. 

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Postdoctoral Fellows

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Research Technician

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Graduate Students

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Keegan Brighton, PhD Candidate

Keegan is from South-East Minnesota and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine under the supervision of Dr. Tiong Aw.  Keegan attended the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. Keegan continued his education through a Masters of Applied Biotechnology with a focus on research and development through the University of Wisconsin. Keegan has research experience in organic chemistry, environmental microbiology, clinical research, as well as further experience in epidemiological research at the Marshfield Clinic where he focused on studying the transmission of COVID-19. Keegan is currently working directly with Dr. Huiyun Wu, to explore wastewater-based epidemiology for monitoring microbial disease outbreaks. Outside of the lab, Keegan is very active with passions for many sports and activities such as camping, rock climbing, rugby, fishing, and powerlifting.

Claire Schwarze, Master Student

Claire is from Houston, TX and is finishing her Master of Science in Public Health in the Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease department at Tulane. Claire attained her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Tulane University in 2023 with a minor in mathematics. Claire’s master’s thesis is focused on antimicrobial resistance in New Orleans waters, specifically identifying prevalence and provenance of resistant thermotolerant fecal coliforms in Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. Her broad public health interests are infectious disease outbreak prevention and control and One Health. She is looking forward to exploring the intersection of water systems and infectious disease transmission pathways, with a focus on mitigating risks in vulnerable communities. In her free time she enjoys reading, walks in Audubon park, and has recently started knitting. 

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Undergraduates

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Annika Nelson

Annika Nelson is a sophomore at Tulane from Los Angeles, California. She is double majoring in Public Health and Cell & Molecular Biology. After taking Foundations of Environmental Health her freshman year, she became interested in all the factors of the environment that have the potential to impact health. Coming from a place where water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource, she is interested in projects that investigate the pathogens and chemical contaminants that are present in natural water sources.  

 

 

 

Miles Brooke

Miles is a senior at Tulane from Park City, Utah. He is pursuing a degree in Public Health. Managing a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, he became interested in environmental factors that impact human health, particularly digestion. He is particularly interested in studying the relationship between microbes, microbes, and their influence on water-borne and food-borne illnesses. Outside of school, he enjoys cooking, reading, running, and playing rugby.

 

 

Alec Dorkin

Alec is currently a sophomore at Tulane studying Public Health with the intent of pursuing a Master’s Degree and PhD. As someone still fairly new to the world of Public Health, I have been incredibly fascinated by different preventative measures and strategies within the field and love witnessing the intersection of microbiology and environmental health techniques and strategies in the water research done at this lab!

 

 

 

Caroline Hampson

Caroline Hampson is from Alpharetta, Georgia and a sophomore at Tulane University. She is majoring in Public Health. After taking Foundations of Environmental Health, she became interested in how the environment affects health in different ways. She has always been passionate about water and wants to learn more about different pathogens and microbes found within it. In Caroline’s free time, she enjoys being outside, going on walks, and being with friends and family.

 

Mia MacDonald

Mia is a sophomore at Tulane from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is majoring in Public Health and Political Science. She is interested in studying the relationship between health and the environment, particularly with infectious diseases. She is also interested in how research findings can be used to create policy change and improve public health. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, going on walks, and exploring the city of New Orleans. 

 

 

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Lab Alumni / Former Students

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• PhD Student                                  

Dr. Josh Alarcon

Josh is a New Orleans native pursuing his Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.  After his undergraduate degree at Tulane University, Josh worked for several years for aquariums and marine research facilities in dolphin and sea turtle rescue, animal husbandry and life support systems.  Josh earned his first Master’s degree from the University of New Orleans in Earth and Environmental Science with his thesis “Overwash Controls on Barrier Island Morphodynamics during Storms”.  Josh earned his second Master’s degree from Texas A&M University at Galveston in Marine Resources Management with his thesis “The Impact of the Installation of an Estuarine Dam on Sediment Distribution and Accumulation Rates in the Geum Estuary, South Korea”.  Currently, Josh is working with his advisor, Dr. Tiong Aw, on the impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs), as well as other contaminants including metals and waterborne pathogens, to local water quality in Lake Pontchartrain.  Josh is interested in pursuing research-based positions involving coastal morphodynamics, hydrology and the impacts to environmental and human health.

Dr. Katie Vigil (Current: Research Scientist at Oxford Nanopore)

Hi, my name is Katie Vigil, and I am California Certified Public Health Microbiologist (PHM) that has a B.S. and M.S. degree in Biology from Humboldt State University (HSU).  At HSU, I did molecular research of Rickettsia bacteria In ticks. I also worked at the Humboldt County, Solano County, and Richmond State Microbial Disease (MDL) Public Health Laboratories as a Laboratory Technician and PHM trainee.  After my PHM training, I worked at the Santa Clara Valley Water District as a Microbiologist, where I conducted various drinking water, raw water and recycled water compliance testing.  Currently, I am working towards my PhD in Environmental Public Health at Tulane University.   I am interesting in using various advanced molecular techniques to study viruses and microbes from diverse water sources.  I want to use metagenomics to understand the impact that microbes and viruses have on aquatic ecosystems.

Dr. Laura Scott (Current: Research Scientist at USGS)

My name is Laura Scott, and I am working towards my PhD. I got my B.S. in Zoology from Oklahoma State University, and my M.S. in Epidemiology from Tulane. I am interested in studying the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in soil and water in low human density areas. I want to study the relationship between human activities and the presence of resistance in remote environments. I really enjoy field work, and having the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful places in the world. 

 

 

• Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr. Huiyun Wu (Current: Assistant Professor at Washington State University)

Dr. Gulshan Singh (Current: Research Scientist at Stanford University)

I am working in the field of environmental microbiology and I have acquired experience in developing molecular approaches by using qPCR chemistries (SYBR Green, Molecular Beacon, Taqman, Scorpian probes) and droplet digital PCR for quantitative enumeration of bacterial pathogens in the environment. My research interests includes, exploring the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria retrieved from different environmental matrices, utilizing metagenomics analysis combined with high-throughput sequencing to identify the potential virulence and pathogenesis factors in multidrug resistant bacteria. I am also working on the development of molecular tools for the detection and quantification of different viruses in the environmental water that will further help in environmental monitoring and epidemiological investigations of viral infections associated with waterborne exposures.

• Lab Research Technician

Morgan Osbun

Alexandra (Lexi) Aubee (Current: Epidemiologist at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health)

Kate Jordan (Current: Medical student at University of Tennessee-Health Science Center)

I am currently studying Global Environmental Health Sciences at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. I received my bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with a second major in linguistics and a German minor from Tulane in 2018. I am currently working in Dr. Aw’s research lab focusing on vibrio bacteria in water and oysters in Barataria Bay and Lake Pontchartrain. I plan to pursue a career in environmental health research or a career in medicine. 

 

 

• Master Student

Nick Lee, MSPH in Epidemiology (Current: Epidemiologist, Tarrant County Public Health Texas)

My name is Nick Lee and I’m currently working on my Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology. I have a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Russian from Baylor University. I’m interested in environmental science as it impacts human health. I’m especially interested in how disease pathways may change and evolve as the environment changes. I’m currently assisting the lab in the analysis of soil and water samples from various projects. I plan to begin a career as an epidemiologist, hopefully somewhere sunny and with plenty of opportunities for outdoor work.

 

Emily Cooksey, MSPH (Current: PhD, The University of Arizona)

Emily Cooksey is a graduate student in the Global Environmental Health Science program at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology with a focus in biomedical science and microscopy from Central Michigan University in 2015. Her undergraduate research was focused on confocal analysis of tau-expressing Dictyostelium cells and Drosophila neurons. Emily is currently working in Dr. Aw’s research lab focusing on waterborne viruses in Lake Pontchartrain. She plans to pursue a career working with urban water quality issues.

• Undergraduate Student

Nicole Bergman

My name is Nicole and I am a Junior at Tulane from Denver, Colorado. I am an Environmental Biology major interested in the intersection of environmental and public health, particularly the emergence and distribution of pathogens and disease in diverse settings. I am looking forward to participating in projects which investigate pathogens and contaminants present in water sources to better understand the impacts on human and environmental health, applied on both local and global scales. 

 

 

Penelope Pollard

Penelope is a senior undergraduate at Tulane and is originally from San Diego. She is pursuing two bachelor’s degrees, a BS in Public Health and a BA in Environmental Studies. She also has minors in Spanish and Political Science. In her interdisciplinary undergraduate studies, she has studied the politics of transboundary water management as well as the influence of industrial farming on harmful algal blooms (HABs). Penelope’s most recent research has been focussed on making Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (W.A.S.H.) provision more efficient in international humanitarian response settings. In the lab, she is using microbiological techniques to study the trends of bacterial growth in reusable water bottles and regularly assists on drinking water quality research. In her free time, she loves to read, learn new languages, try new coffee shops, and upcycle vintage clothing.

Kyle Campbell

Kyle Campbell is a junior at Tulane University from Boise, Idaho. He is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Cell & Molecular Biology and International Development, as well as a minor in French. He enjoys many types of outdoor recreation, which led to an interest in analyzing environmental data towards the goal of better human-environment interactions. In the past, Kyle has worked on genomic analysis of fish in Kenya, and wishes to continue work focusing on the impacts of wastewater on water quality of natural environments. He wishes to pursue a career in research on human-animal disease interactions and implications for public health. On campus, he works with the Outdoor Adventures program and participates on the club rowing team.

Samuel Fisch (Current: Graduate student at Columbia University)

Sam Fisch is a current undergraduate student at Tulane with majors in Public Health and Anthropology and a minor in Religious Studies. His research interests pertain to microbial prevalence within municipal wastewater, with a particular emphasis on disease-causing viruses and bacterium. Sam has a passion for the human right to clean water. Working within this lab has allowed Sam to understand the complexities of maintaining clean water and the true breadth of organisms living within the water around us. Grounded in the social sciences, Sam’s ability to critically evaluate potentially harmful pathogens’ lived effects enables him to fully understand the disease burden. Sam hopes to pursue a career in public health, specializing in infectious disease prevention and control. He is excited to learn more about how environmental health and protection can improve wellness outcomes and prevent future disease spillover events.

Grant Kaufman

Grant Kaufman is a senior at Tulane University from Westchester, New York. Many of his early interests revolved around community service and the sciences, which ultimately encouraged him to pursue a degree in public health. His first public health course introduced him to “zombie pathogens”, infectious agents that have suddenly began to reemerge due to glacial thawing. This sparked a long-held passion in water as a determinant of community health. Thus, Grant sought to cultivate his knowledge in this subject through an independent study project. Under Dr. Aw’s instruction, Grant is investigating antibiotic resistance gene prevalence across wastewater treatment plants and the surrounding New Orleans environment. His data will help shed light on future direction for public health policy as it concerns wastewater treatment plant infrastructure improvement. Outside of the classroom, Grant enjoys his involvement in both social and professional Greek life, as well as his time with the Pre-Medical Society. Grant hopes to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine, where he will leverage his background in public health to emphasize holistic and preventative care.

Alison Guenthardt

Alison Guenthardt is a junior at Tulane University from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is double majoring in Environmental Biology and Public Health and minoring in Marine Biology. On campus, Alison is involved in Greek life and plays for the Women’s Club Lacrosse team. In the past, she has worked with sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica and shark tagging in Maine. She is interested in pathogens that affect marine mammals and how they could potentially impact human health. She is also interested in the study of bivalve mollusks as indicators for water quality.

Emiko Distler

Layla Babahaji, BSPH 2021 (Current: Master student at Tulane University)

Amina (Amna) Ashraf, BSPH 2021

Amna Ashraf is a senior studying Public Health and Spanish. She was born in Kingston, New York but has spent a tremendous amount of time in Southern Louisiana. On-campus she serves as a Service-Learning Assistant leader, has sat on numerous committees, and is a member of several clubs such as the Muslim Student Association. 

 

 

Sydney Young, BSPH 2020 (Current: Master student at the George Washington University)

Maria Patrizia Santos, BSPH 2019 (Current: PhD student at Tulane SPHTM)

My name is Maria Patrizia Santos, born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela and part of the combined BSPH/MPH program in the department of Epidemiology. I have participated in various public health projects abroad, including Peru and Nicaragua, where water-borne diseases represent a substantial burden of disease. I am interested in studying how certain environmental conditions influence the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, like Helicobacter Pylori, an emerging pathogen that is most prevalent in developing countries.

 

Sarah O’Brien, BS Neuroscience, 2018 (Current: Medical student at Tulane University)

Blake Langenbach, BS/BPH Neuroscience & Public Health, Summer 2017 (Current: ORISE Fellow at U.S. EPA)

My name is Blake Langenbach and I am from Fairhope, Alabama, pursuing a double major in both Neuroscience and Public Health. Growing up on the port of Mobile Bay with its oyster farms, along with the Gulf Coast and its massive fishing industry, water quality holds a special place in mine and my community’s heart––it provides a means of living to most. As an avid outdoors traveler, learning the methods used to detect and analyze the presence of bacteria and viruses that plague water is key in pursuing environmental justice and promoting environmental health. I hope to continue to learn, research, and apply these methods in our communities and environment, improving health for us all.

Caitlin Billiot, Microbiology major, Louisiana State University, Summer 2017

Ricardo Salas, Emerging Scholars Environmental Health Sciences Academy, Summer 2017