GRADUATE STUDENTS
SARAH PITELL
Education: I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH in the spring of 2019.
PhD: I started my PhD in the Haig research group in Fall 2019, obtained my MS in Environmental Engineering in April 2022, and will graduate in Spring 2024. My PhD focuses on evaluating how design and operational choices in the type of showerhead a consumer or building mangers uses impacts exposure to drinking water-associated pathogens that can cause infections in the immunocompromised (DWPIs). My thesis proposal is titled: “Assessing the impact of showerhead design choices on consumer exposure to DWPIs”
Projects involved in: Various projects in the INHALE lab and bioconcrete
Contact: sep109@pitt.edu
ISAIAH SPENCER-WILLIAMS
Education: I graduated in April 2019 with an undergraduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
PhD: I starting my PhD in the Haig research group in Fall 2019, obtained my MS in Environmental Engineering in April 2022, and will graduate in Spring 2024. My PhD thesis focuses on evaluating how design and operational changes in the urban water cycle impact microbial quality. My thesis proposal is titled:“Understanding how Changes in Operation & Design of Urban Water Infrastructure Impact Connected Aquatic Microbiomes and Public Health”
Projects involved in: Orthophosphate corrosion control impact on watersheds and the drinking water microbiome
Contact: ims17@pitt.edu
JEMIMA (MIMA) OHWOBETE
Education: I received my BS in Environmental Chemistry in December 2021 from St. Edwards University in Austin, TX.
PhD: I started my PhD in the Haig research group in Fall 2022 and my research delves into the study of the chemical and microbial characteristics in dust, air, and water sources. I'm particularly interested in understanding how consumer choices and built environment factors impact the microbial exposures we face in our homes.
Projects involved in: Health and High Water, and HUD fungal assessment
Contact: jeo67@pitt.edu
Mariia Nikitina
Education: I completed an undergraduate degree in Ecology and Nature Management from Saint Petersburg State University in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2018. I graduated in June 2020 with a master's degree in Ecology and Environmental Management from Lomonosov Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia.
PhD: I started my PhD in the Haig research group in Fall 2023. My PhD thesis will focus on understanding how consumer shower operation and design choices (e.g., showerhead spray patterns, flow rates) influence exposure to non-tuberculosis mycobacteria in both shower water and shower water-associated aerosols.
Projects involved in: INvestigating Home water and Aerosols' Links to opportunistic pathogen Exposure (INHALE): do consumer decisions impact pathogen exposure and virulence?
Contact: MAN310@pitt.edu
Adelle holder
Education: I will be receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Valparaiso University in Spring 2024.
PhD: I will be starting my PhD in the Haig research group in Fall 2024.
Interests: I enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, playing hockey, and spending time outdoors.
Joseph Engelmeier
Education: I graduated in April 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders from the University of Pittsburgh.
Master's: I am currently a second-year graduate student pursuing an MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health from the University of Pittsburgh. My current area of interest is air quality. I am building my thesis off of work done in the University of Pittsburgh's Healthy Home Laboratory focusing on pollutant detection in consumer grade air quality monitors. I started with the Haig research group in September of 2023 working on a perspective piece with Isaiah Spencer-Williams focused on indoor air quality assessment methods in basements.
Contact: jle70@pitt.edu
Casey Taljan
Education: I received my B.S. in Environmental Engineering in Spring 2023 from The University of Pittsburgh.
Master's: I am currently pursuing an M.S. in Civil Engineering with a focus in Environmental Engineering and plan to graduate in Spring 2024. As part of my degree I have been helping Sarah Pitell with CDC biofilm reactor work aimed at understanding how different silver ion CT values impact the viability of nontuberculous mycobacteria.
Contact: CMT105@pitt.edu