Grant: Canada Research Chairs

The research combines microbial genetics with environmental microbiology to address complex issues in water quality that directly impact human health. The research project has two specific objectives: 1). Define best practices for integrating MST tools into an irrigation water quality monitoring toolbox to protect fresh produce from pathogen contamination during production, thereby benefiting agricultural users who rely on high quality water to assure food safety. 2). Investigate the proliferation of antibiotic resistance plasmids in urban wastewater treatment plants and on-farm manure management facilities and measure the affects of waste management on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance plasmids into the environment.