Detection and characterisation of microorganisms in drinking water, surface water and wastewater

Brent is a Senior Science Leader in the Environmental Science team at the institute of Environmental Science, in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he has an applied focus that interfaces between research activities, outbreak investigations, and commercial work. He is a molecular biologist whose primary research interests include the application of genetic analysis techniques to understanding food and waterborne outbreaks and disease, microbial water quality, faecal source tracking, and zoonoses (diseases or infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans). He has been involved in outbreak investigations related to a number of organisms including Listeria, E. coli O157, Salmonella and the Havelock North Campylobacter outbreak. He has been actively involved in the implementation of wastewater-based epidemiology for illicit drugs, and a range of infectious diseases.