We study pathogens outside of their hosts and work on innovative approaches to detecting, monitoring, and characterizing pathogens found in water, air, and on surfaces. We probe the mechanisms by which pathogens lose their infectivity in both engineered and natural systems and leverage findings from this work to improve non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed at reducing the spread of pathogens.
2023-2024
Wiggi Group Members
Dr. Krista R. Wigginton is a Professor of Environmental Engineering and Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Education at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Professional Chemistry from the University of Idaho. Her research focuses on the detection, behavior, and control of viruses and other microbial contaminants in engineered water systems, with applications in water reuse, public health surveillance, and environmental virology. Her recent research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the CDC via the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and private foundations, including major projects on wastewater-based epidemiology and virus disinfection modeling. Her work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the NSF CAREER Award and the Water Research Foundation's Paul L. Busch Award.
kwigg @ umich.edu
