EDUCATION
PhD Biosystems Engineering December 2022
Dual Degree: PhD Environmental Science and Policy
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, GPA: 4.00
Advisor: Jade Mitchell, Ph.D.
MS Biosystems Engineering May 2019
Master’s Thesis: Risk Assessment Models to Support Management of Opportunistic Pathogens in Piped Water Systems
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, GPA: 4.00
Advisor: Jade Mitchell, Ph.D.
BS Biosystems Engineering May 2018
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, GPA: 3.93

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
1/2023-present Research Associate, QMRA IV Program Coordinator
Directed the daily logistics of course coordination, collaborated with STEM education faculty to collect and analyze assessment and evaluation data, supported the content creation of research education materials and outputs including interactive online training and in-person team science workshops, managed the interface between the pedagogical and content experts and the learning technology research experts, and assisted in the development of novel research case studies used for project-based learning.
9/2019-12/2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (PhD)
Described the fate of pathogens in surface waters with mathematical models, identified factors influencing key persistence behaviors, and applied the improved persistence knowledge within the quantitative microbial risk assessment framework to characterize risks associated with pathogens in surface water matrices.
5/2018-5/2019 Graduate Research Assistant (MS)
Integrated the chemical and microbial analyses of water sampling efforts to determine risks associated with opportunistic pathogens in drinking water systems under the Right Sizing Tomorrow’s Water Systems for Efficiency, Sustainability, and Public Health project (#R836890).
9/2014-5/2018 Undergraduate Researcher
Conducted literature reviews, fit novel dose response and persistence models, and provided experimental design, data gathering and analysis support for the Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA), the Citizen Science Study of Contaminant Exposures Related to Water Affordability in Detroit, the Global Water Pathogens Project (GWPP), and MSU Extension projects.

AWARDS AND HONORS
Fitch H. Beach Award Winner, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering 2022
Fitch H. Beach Award Nominee, College of Engineering 2022
Travel Award Winner, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources 2022
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow Program 2019
Best Poster Award for the Health, Food Safety & Biomechanics Category, Michigan State University Engineering Graduate Research Symposium 2019
Recognition for Outstanding Research, 2nd Place, Michigan State University Engineering Graduate Research Symposium 2018
Michigan State University, Graduate School Research Enhancement Award 2018
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Service Award 2018
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Fellowship Winner 2017
Michigan State University Scholar-Athlete Award, Swimming and Diving 2017
Michigan State University Alumni Distinguished Scholar 2014
Honors College Member 2014-18

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Graduate Teaching Assistant FS 2018, 2020, 2021
BE 449- Human Health Risk- Formal lab instruction, grading, assisting students
QMRA IV (NIH #R25GM135058) Co-Instructor (~40 students) Summer 2022
Fate and Transport Modeling (45 minutes)
Cost Benefit Analysis and Decision Trees (90 minutes)
Guest Lecturer (~30 students) FS 2019
BE 449- Human Health Risk- Probability and Statistical Distributions (30 minutes)
BE 449- Human Health Risk- QMRA Methodology and Examples (45 minutes)
Grader FS 2019
BE 449- Human Health Risk- Grading labs, homeworks, and exams
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant 2017-2018
BE 334- Biosystems Engineering Lab
BE 456- Electric Power and Control

CERTIFICATIONS

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

  1. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. 2022. Meta-analysis addressing the implications of model uncertainty in understanding the persistence of indicators and pathogens in natural surface waters. Environmental Science & Technology, 56(17). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c07552
  2. Dean, K., Coaster, N., Young, K., & Mitchell, J. 2022. Development of a dose-response model for Elizabethkingia spp. Risk Analysis, Early View. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.14013
  3. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. 2022. Identifying Water Quality and Environmental Factors that Influence Indicator and Pathogen Decay in Natural Surface Waters. Water Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118051
  4. Kline, A., Dean, K., Kossik, A.L., Harrison, J.C., Januch, J.D., Beck, N.K., Zhou, N.A., Shirai, J.H., Boyle, D.S., Mitchell, J., & Meschke, J.S. 2022. Persistence of poliovirus types 2 and 3 in waste-impacted water and sediment. PLOS One, 17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262761
  5. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. 2022. Exploring the Effects of Natural Stressors on Indicators and Pathogens in Surface Waters with Persistence Modeling. Public Health and Water Conference & Wastewater Disease Surveillance Summit Conference Proceedings, Cincinnati, Ohio, 21-24, March. Available at: https://www.accesswater.org/?id=-10080808&fromsearch=true#iosfirsthighlight
  6. Dean, K., Tamrakar, S., Huang, Y., Rose, J.B., and Mitchell, J. 2021. Modeling the dose response relationship of waterborne Acanthamoeba. Risk Analysis, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13603
  7. Mitchell, J., Dean, K., & Haas, C. 2020. Ebola Virus Dose Response Model for Aerosolized Exposures: Insights from Primate Data. Risk Analysis, 40(11): 2390-2398. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13551
  8. Julien, R., Dreelin, E., Whelton, A.J., Lee, J., Aw, T.G., Dean, K., & Mitchell, J. 2020. Knowledge gaps and risks associated with premise plumbing drinking water quality. AWWA Water Science, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1177
  9. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. 2020. A dose response model for the inhalation route of exposure to P.aeruginosa. Microbial Risk Analysis, 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mran.2020.100115
  10. Dean, K., Wissler, A., Hernandez-Suarez, J.S., Nejadhashemi, A.P., & Mitchell, J. 2020. Modeling the Persistence of Viruses in Untreated Groundwater. Science of the Total Environment, 717(15). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134599
  11. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. 2020. Reverse QMRA for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Premise Plumbing to Inform Risk Management. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 146(3). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001641
  12. Dean, K., Weir, M.H., and Mitchell, J. 2019. Development of a Dose-Response Model for Naegleria fowleri. Journal of Water and Health, 17(1): 63-71. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2018.181

PRESENTATIONS

  1. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “A generalizable model for pathogen persistence in surface waters.” Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL. December 4-8, 2022. Oral.
  2. Dean, K., Curtis, K., Gonzalez, R., & Mitchell, J. “Considering pathogen persistence within surface water risk assessments.” Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL. December 4-8, 2022. Oral.
  3. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “What you resist, will persist.” Great Lakes Beach Association Meeting, Muskegon, MI. October 31-November 2, 2022. Oral.
  4. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “The impact of persistence model selectin on the assessment of human risks in surface waters.” UNC Water & Health Conference, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC. October 24-28, 2022. Poster.
  5. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “A meta-analysis evaluating the persistence of indicators and pathogens in surface waters.” Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, St. Louis, Missouri, June 28-30, 2022. Oral.
  6. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “A Hierarchical Analysis to Identify Pathogen Persistence Relationships in Surface Waters with Implications for Risk Assessment.” Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, East Lansing, MI. April 14, 2022. Poster.
  7. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “Comparing Pathogen and Indicator Persistence in Surface Water to Inform Decision Makers.” Environmental Science and Policy Program Research Symposium, Virtual Platform, March 31, 2022. Oral.
  8. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “Exploring the Effects of Natural Stressors on Indicators and Pathogens in Surface Waters with Persistence Modeling.” Public Health and Water Conference & Wastewater Disease Surveillance Summit, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 21-24, 2022. Oral.
  9. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “Addressing Model Uncertainty for the Persistence of Pathogens and Indicator Organisms in Surface Water Matrices.” 2021 Annual Meeting for the Society for Risk Analysis, Virtual Platform, December 5-9, 2021. Oral.
  10. Dean, K. & Mitchell, J. “Developing a Dose Response Model for Ebolavirus.” 2020 Annual Meeting for the Society for Risk Analysis, Virtual Platform. December 13-17, 2020. Oral.
  11. Dean, K., Hamilton, K., Rasheduzzaman, M. Tolofari, D., Yang, Z., Bartrand, T., Gurian, P.L., Haas, C.N., Mitchell, J., and Singh, R. “Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens: Challenges and Results from Three Case Studies.” American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition, Denver, CO. June 9-12, 2019. Oral.
  12. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. “Quantifying the Risk of P. aeruginosa in Premise Plumbing for Building Design and Maintenance.” Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Research and Education Conference, Tempe, AR. May 14-16, 2019. Poster.
  13. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. “Effect of Exposure Route on Threshold Levels of Concern for P.aeruginosa in Premise Plumbing Systems.” Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, East Lansing, MI. March 21, 2019. Poster.
  14. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. “Reverse QMRA for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a showering event to inform monitoring levels.” 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, New Orleans, LA. December 2-6, 2018. Oral.
  15. Dean, K., Tolofari, D., Hull, N. and Pierce-Walker, J. “Impacts of Showering Compliance Rates on the Risk of Infection from Cryptosporidium spp. in Swimming Pools.” 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, New Orleans, LA. December 2-6, 2018. Poster.
  16. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. “Parameter Estimation to Model Virus Persistence.” Inverse Problems Symposium, Michigan State University, MI. June 3-5, 2018. Oral.
  17. Dean, K.J., Julien, R. and Mitchell, J. “Assessment of Risks Associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Low Flow Fixtures in a Residential Green Building.” UNC Water Microbiology Conference, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC. May 22-24, 2018. Oral.
  18. Dean, K., Julien, R. and Mitchell, J. “Declining Water Use and the Compounding Effects of Green Building Design.” Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, Michigan State University, MI. March 29, 2018. Poster.
  19. Dean, K., Willis, E., and Mitchell, J. Persistence Modeling of MS2. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum. Michigan State University, MI. April 2018. Poster.
  20. Mitchell, J., Dean, K., Tamrakar, S., Huang, Y. and Rose, J. “Opportunistic pathogen dose-response models.” 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis Arlington, VA. December 2017. Oral.
  21. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. “Are Indicator Bacteria Representative of Actual Health Risk: A Seawater Assessment.” University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum. Michigan State University, MI. April 2017. Poster.
  22. Dean, K. and Mitchell, J. “Developing Dose Response Models for Opportunistic Pathogens: Key to Assessing Risk.” University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum. Michigan State University, MI. April 2016. Poster.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Society for Risk Analysis 2018-Present
Water Environment Federation 2022
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors 2022
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 2018

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Co-Mentor for the SROP Program SS 2020, 2021
Peer-Reviewer for Risk Analysis, Water Science, npj Clean Water, and Water Research 2020-Present
Graduate Student Advisory Group 2018-Present
     - Chair for ’20-’21 term
     - Vice Chair for ’19-’20 term
     - Secretary & Social Chair for ’18-’19 term
Microbial Risk Analysis Specialty Group 2020-Present
     - Served as the Secretary (2023)
     - Served as the Graduate Student Representative (2022)
Dose Response Specialty Group 2019-Present
     - Served as the Graduate Student Representative (2019)
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual Intl. Meeting 2018
     - Volunteer responsible for organizing materials and aiding presenters
Plumbing Safety Workshop, Purdue University, IN 2017
     - Aided in the workshop note-taking efforts and supported the organizational staff

Mentoring
1. Kate Wernicke, Biosystems Engineering, MSU FS 2022-Present
2. Tyler Stump, Biosystems Engineering, MSU SS 2022-Present
3. Jack Kivi, Biosystems Engineering, MSU FS 2021-SS 2022
4. Stephanie Starr, Biosystems Engineering, MSU Summer 2020-SS 2022
5. Gustavo Garay-Rodriguez, Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico (MSU SROP) Summer 2021
6. Natalie Coaster, Biosystems Engineering, MSU FS 2019-Summer 2020
7. Stephen Gonzalez, Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton (MSU SROP) Summer 2020
8. Esha Jain, Biosystems Engineering, MSU FS 2017-SS 2020