Academic Degrees
- Ph.D. Biochemistry, Virginia Tech
- M.Sc. Biochemistry, Virginia Tech
- B.Sc. Biotechnology Engineering, Costa Rican Institute of Technology
Areas of Research and Professional Interest
- Chemical and biological influence of the environment on drinking water pathogens.
- Multiomic approaches on the study of L. pneumophila in drinking water systems.
- Affordable active learning technologies in the classroom.
Courses Taught
- Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering (ENVE322)
- Elements of Biochemistry (BIOC431)
Selected Publications
Interactive effects of pipe material, iron bioavailability and corrosive water on the microbial composition of hot water plumbing systems and propensity to support Legionella pneumophila growth. (in preparation) Didier Mena-Aguilar, Rebekah L. Martin, Matthew Blair, Marc A. Edwards, Amy Pruden, and Richard F. Helm.
A multiomic assessment of outbreak-associated strains of Legionella pneumophila reveals that copper induces virulence-associated responses. (in preparation) Didier Mena-Aguilar, Connor L. Brown, Yang Song, Amy Pruden, Marc A. Edwards, and Richard F. Helm.
Copper Pipe, Lack of Corrosion Control, and Very Low pH May Have Influenced the Trajectory of the Flint Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak. ACS ES&T Water Water. (2022) Rebekah Martin, Owen Strom, Yang Song, Didier Mena-Aguilar, William Rhoads, Amy Pruden, and Marc Edwards.