Collaboratively study how community-level fecal waste management practices and environmental contaminant exposures affect the gut microbiome, nutritional status, and physical development of Indigenous Mayan children from rural communities in Guatemala.

The Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab (LDNS Lab) advances character-driven leadership, diplomacy, and national security education and training in support of the full range of university enterprises. Led by diplomatic and national security professionals, The Lab dedicates itself to learner-centered solutions and thought leadership through a global network of partners employing state of the art learning tools. https://ldns.asu.edu/

The Global Futures Laboratory brings an unprecedented unification of expertise and facilities dedicated to solve problems and sustain the integrity of our planet and its life-supporting systems.Sustainability Scientists, Scholars and Fellows accelerate the pace of discovery in the field of sustainability. They integrate practical experience with knowledge and action drawn from the spectrum of disciplines in the natural and social sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics, humanities… Show more The Global Futures Laboratory brings an unprecedented unification of expertise and facilities dedicated to solve problems and sustain the integrity of our planet and its life-supporting systems.Sustainability Scientists, Scholars and Fellows accelerate the pace of discovery in the field of sustainability. They integrate practical experience with knowledge and action drawn from the spectrum of disciplines in the natural and social sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics, humanities and the arts. Show less

Goal: Mitigate human exposure to environmental contaminants (primarily microbial)Aim: Provide equitable opportunities and access to basic human needs (see SDGs)Primary Research Focus- Environmental exposures and child health-- Gut microbiome, resistome, and child development-- Big data, analytics, and machine learning in environmental health and critical control points- Water security and safety in low-resource settings-- Technology and decision support tool… Show more Goal: Mitigate human exposure to environmental contaminants (primarily microbial)Aim: Provide equitable opportunities and access to basic human needs (see SDGs)Primary Research Focus- Environmental exposures and child health-- Gut microbiome, resistome, and child development-- Big data, analytics, and machine learning in environmental health and critical control points- Water security and safety in low-resource settings-- Technology and decision support tool development for decentralized water systems-- Low-cost, advanced tech platforms for improved rural water system management- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and sewage management-- Improving AMR surveillance techniques and decentralized control technologies-- Optimizing use of available sanitation assets to sustainably improve services Show less

Support research on environmental health issues; mainly improving our understanding of environmental exposures and food safety on child health. Specific focus on mycotoxins (fungal toxin), pathogens, and the gut microbiome.

Solutions-oriented organization solving problems at the nexus of water, health, & technology for underserved communities.

Provide training and technical assistance on integrating DNA sequencing technologies (Nanopore and Illumina) into UN Tripartite (FAO/OIE/WHO) antimicrobial resistance global monitoring methodologies. Facilitated pilot study to assess feasibility and cost-effectiveness of sequencing technologies in Indonesia.

Conduct research on water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions on child health outcomes; develop tools for identifying causal mechanisms and facilitating local solution development. Integrating computer AI vision models and Google Street View images to evaluate associations between environmental characteristics and early childhood development outcomes. African Academy of Sciences and Gates Foundation funded project to leverage ICT tools and geospatial data to empower women to… Show more Conduct research on water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions on child health outcomes; develop tools for identifying causal mechanisms and facilitating local solution development. Integrating computer AI vision models and Google Street View images to evaluate associations between environmental characteristics and early childhood development outcomes. African Academy of Sciences and Gates Foundation funded project to leverage ICT tools and geospatial data to empower women to access safe and clean sanitation facilities in Soweto. Global Challenges Research Fund Networking Grant to develop machine learning and geospatial tools to identify associations between WaSH and child health in South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Guatemala. Show less

Led a team in applying lean startup principles, big data, and AI to rapidly co-create and scale solutions to problems in resource constrained, urban service delivery sectors (water, sanitation, transport, healthcare, etc.).

Developing a decision support tool for households in the US Virgin Islands for available water treatment options. The tool combines a mechanistic risk model and cost-benefit analysis to identify the best [sets of] water treatment options based on water use and exposure.

Conduct capacity building and research in post-hurricane communities regarding waterborne disease control via improved water quality and sanitation systems. Lead research on the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the environment and potential control mechanisms to reduce the spread of resistant pathogens in low and middle income countries. Support work at the CDC in domestic and global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) epidemiology, capacity building, and interventions.

Conduct research using molecular sequencing tools and bioinformatics to monitor infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and mobile genetic elements in collaboration with the Christian Medical College of Vellore, India among low-income, urban populations of Vellore. Support modeling of environmental exposure and child health data from Kenya to identify critical factors detrimental to child physical development. Support ongoing work within the framework of pathogenic… Show more Conduct research using molecular sequencing tools and bioinformatics to monitor infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and mobile genetic elements in collaboration with the Christian Medical College of Vellore, India among low-income, urban populations of Vellore. Support modeling of environmental exposure and child health data from Kenya to identify critical factors detrimental to child physical development. Support ongoing work within the framework of pathogenic disease transmission at the School of Engineering and School of Medicine at Tufts University. Show less

Under the Centre of Excellence in Food Security, aid in integrating intestinal disease research and systems engineering approaches with nutrition research to improve child malnutrition research approachesDevelop university collaborations, research proposals, and grant applications to catalyze further work on child malnutrition.

Conducted stakeholder mapping and literature review of nutrition-sensitive agriculture projects, programs, and research initiatives in Guatemala to inform future CRS programmingLed longitudinal data analysis study on CRS intervention effects on acute and chronic child malnutrition in Guatemala

Directed a multi-team, longitudinal study in the western highlands of Guatemala to assess the impact of diarrheal disease exposure and food insecurity on child physical development. Coordinated two different research teams in Para, Brazil to observe impacts of diarrheal disease transmission intervention techniques.Developed systems models explaining environmental health and cultural relationships within Brazil, utilized exploratory statistical techniques to investigate more… Show more Directed a multi-team, longitudinal study in the western highlands of Guatemala to assess the impact of diarrheal disease exposure and food insecurity on child physical development. Coordinated two different research teams in Para, Brazil to observe impacts of diarrheal disease transmission intervention techniques.Developed systems models explaining environmental health and cultural relationships within Brazil, utilized exploratory statistical techniques to investigate more robust indicators of education, socioeconomic status, and health within BrazilDirected a joint research team in Gujarat, India on groundwater assessments in rural communities. Led a second team in Madhya Pradesh, India to analyze and report on water quality and water supply issues for a children’s orphanage and nursing college. Show less

Introduction to Environmental Engineering Guest Lecturer at Washington University in St. Louis Innovation and Design Research short course

Assess dynamic long term project proposals on effectiveness and sustainability, proposals vary widely in structure and relation to the complex relationships found in local impoverished communities.

Conducting PhD research in collaboration with Development Alternatives Inc. under Peace Corps Response Feed the Future. Coordinating multiple teams for grant writing, Health Center data collection, field data collection, laboratory analysis, data analysis, and health information system development. Project utilizes a systems thinking approach to the complex problem of child malnutrition and stunting in Guatemala.

Conducted assessment of nutrition programs throughout UN and donor agencies, developed project proposals for nutrition sensitive food system approaches in line with existing programsConducted strategic annual report for FAO-Indonesia office including staff interviews, analysis of project outcomes, and drafting of recommendations for future action on entire portfolio.

Help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable; reduce rural poverty; enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems; and increase resilience of livelihoods from disasters.

Support United States diplomatic relations and operations on food security, nutrition and health around the world.

Facilitated communications with think tanks, NGOs, and other agencies of government, met with members of Congress and staff to advance USAID goals and initiativesDrafted briefs and memos for collaboration prospects and emerging topics of concern within USAID

Developed a research proposal for an intervention assessment model for water and sanitation utilities in promoting economic, environmental and societal sustainabilityProvided support through literature reviews on development strategies; specifically logical framework approach verse more integrated approaches

Analyzed risk of groundwater contamination from latrines and pig farmsCollaborated with community members regarding safe latrine implementationAided in pre and post well implementation assessments and recommendations