Conference Description
The Microbiology of the Built Environment GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
The Microbiology of the Built Environment GRC will focus on microbes inhabiting air, surfaces, and water associated with various built environments and their consequences to human health, environmental health, and infrastructure functionality and resilience.
The topics, speakers, and discussion leaders for the conference sessions are displayed below. The conference chair is currently developing their detailed program, which will include the complete meeting schedule, as well as the talk titles for all speakers. The detailed program will be available by February 22, 2025. Please check back for updates.
Establishing the Boundaries: Microbes in Space and Extreme Environments
Discussion Leaders
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Janelle Thompson (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
Speakers
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Jonathan Eisen (University of California, Davis, United States)
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Noah Fierer (University of Colorado Boulder, United States)
MoBE and Engineering Design
Discussion Leaders
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Laura (Layla) Kwong (University of California, Berkeley, United States)
Speakers
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Jack Gilbert (University of California San Diego, United States)
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Claudia Gunsch (Duke University, United States)
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Cynthia Gibas (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, United States)
Factors Shaping Microbiomes in Built Environments
Discussion Leaders
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Darren Smith (Northumbria University, United Kingdom)
Speakers
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Maria Dominguez-Bello (Rutgers University, United States)
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Brandon Boor (Purdue University, United States)
Antimicrobial Resistance in Built Environments
Discussion Leaders
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Dominic Frigon (McGill University, Canada)
Speakers
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Latania Logan (Emory University School of Medicine, United States)
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Rachel Medernach (Rush University Medical Center, United States)
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Emilie Bédard (Polytechnique Montréal, Canada)
Relating MoBE and Human Health
Discussion Leaders
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Lisa Brenner (University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, United States)
Speakers
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Robert Dunn (NC State University, United States)
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Marc Verhougstraete (University of Arizona, United States)
Drinking Water Associated Pathogens in Built Environments
Discussion Leaders
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Joan Rose (Michigan State University, United States)
Speakers
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Dienye Tolofari (Great Lakes Water Authority, United States)
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Michele Prevost (Polytechnique Montreal, Canada)
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Ursula Lauper (NYSDOH, United States)
Methods for Monitoring Microbes in Built Evironments
Discussion Leaders
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Anthony Fodor (UNC Charlotte, United States)
Speakers
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Rob Knight (University of California, San Diego, United States)
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Benjamin Ervin (MIT Lincoln Laboratory, United States)
Viruses in the Built Environment
Discussion Leaders
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Donald Milton (University of Maryland School of Public Health, United States)
Speakers
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Katherine Graham (Georgia Institute of Technology, United States)
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Emily Bailey (Campbell University, United States)
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Kaisen Lin (Michigan State University, United States)
Food Surfaces and Disinfection in Built Environments
Discussion Leaders
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Patrick McNamara (Marquette University, United States)
Speakers
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Maria Diaz (Quadram Institute Bioscience, United Kingdom)
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Jasna Kovac (The Pennsylvania State University, United States)
The GRC Power Hourâ„¢
Organizers
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Latania Logan (Emory University School of Medicine, United States)