I am a Doctoral student in the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. My research is primarily funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative Competitive Grant. My major professor is Dr. Erin K. Lipp and she is the principal investigator on this grant. I also work closely with Dr. Richard Lowrance and I am also supported through the USDA-ARS Student Career Experience Program (SCEP).
Recently there have been dramatic increases in broiler production in the coastal plain of Georgia (USA). Much of the resulting chicken litter is being applied to pastures and crop land because of its recognized value as a soil amendment. Waste disposal issues also have gained importance as manure application on agricultural lands increases the risk of contaminating surface waters with pathogenic microorganisms such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. My research project aims to investigate relationships between land application of chicken litter, chicken processing plant effluent, beef cattle (and manure), and the presence of these pathogenic organisms (Salmonella and Campylobacter) in the stream network of the Satilla River Basin (SRB). Recent studies by researchers in the SRB have detected Campylobacter in both agricultural and reference streams. I will investigate the vectors of pathogen contamination in watersheds of the SRB and the effectiveness of using standard indicator organisms to predict the presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter using traditional culture and molecular methods of microbial detection.
