Date:      Tuesday, 20 Jan 2026
Time:      10am –11am
Venue:   SBS TR+5 (SBS-01n-25)

Overview:
Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a mathematical approach used to estimate health risks from exposure to harmful microorganisms in the environment such as in water, food, or air. This method quantifies the likelihood of adverse outcomes and their uncertainty to inform risk management, set safety standards, and design interventions. The fundamentals of the QMRA process will be discussed, with case studies from the water and wastewater sectors. Participants will learn the steps of the QMRA framework and gain exposure to common computational approaches used. Forward looking approaches will be discussed, including key research gaps and innovative approaches, utilization of Al tools, and advancements in integrating molecular data.

Speaker:
Associate Professor Kerry Hamilton
School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment;
Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering,
Arizona State University, USA

Biography:
Dr Kerry Hamilton is an Associate Professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment with a joint appointment in the Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering at Arizona State University. She received her doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering from Drexel University and Master’s of Health Science (MHS) degree in Environmental and Occupational Hygiene from Johns Hopkins University. She was a Fulbright Scholar to Australia and Public Health Fellow at the US Environmental Protection Agency. Her research focuses on assessing and reducing health risks from pathogens transmitted by environmental exposures.