Who We Are | WHAM Lab

The Water, Health and Applied Microbiology (WHAM) Laboratory

The Water, Health and Applied Microbiology (WHAM) Laboratory is split between the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the College of Public Health at Temple University. The lab is currently led by Dr. Heather Murphy. The lab team consists of research fellows, graduate and undergraduate students interested in the field of water and health. The laboratory primarily focuses on microbiological contamination of water supplies and the subsequent impacts on public health.

Meet the Team

Heather Murphy

Director

Dr. Murphy has over sixteen years of experience in water/wastewater treatment, water quality, drinking water distribution, risk assessment and environmental health in both North America and abroad.

Full-Time Staff

Kristin Skiendzielewski, MPH

Kristin joined the lab in 2020 and is currently the Senior Lab and Trial Manager. She currently works on the WET Trial and the lab’s SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Project. She also has worked on projects involving recreational and surface water quality. Kristin explains, “I joined the lab in the hopes of promoting an equitable water future for all populations that maintains balance with the surrounding ecosystems and to use research methods and data analysis to develop effective solutions for water pollution in a changing climate.” When she’s not working, Kristin enjoys taking day trips and spending time with family and friends. She’s even traveled to Italy and Greece to play soccer!

Townley Sorge, MPH

Townley recently graduated with her MPH in Epidemiology from Temple and is now working as a Research Coordinator at the WHAM Lab. She joined the lab in 2022 as an undergraduate intern due to her interest in microbial water contamination and applied epidemiological research. Townley assists on the WET Trial working on recruitment efforts and has done surface water data analysis research. Townley loves to cook, read, and hike. She’s also a jazz saxophonist!

Brandon Spoja

Brandon joined the WHAM lab in 2022 after completing his Master’s and is working as a Research Associate at the University of Guelph. With a background in animal pathogens and AMR surveillance, he assists with ongoing projects involving environmental pathogen detection including the rotational grazing and One Health project. In his spare time, Brandon enjoys playing volleyball, golf, and any game with friendly competition.

Post-Doctorate Fellows

Dr. Sejin Cheong

Sejin joined the WHAM Lab in the fall of 2024 as a post-doctoral research fellow after earning her PhD in Epidemiology from UC Davis. She works on the lab’s rotational grazing and One Health project to see if rotational grazing practices improve animal and environmental health. With a background from her PhD project, which focused on the impact of grazing on fresh produce fields, she is now expanding her research to include pathogens in environmental samples, such as surface and groundwater near grazing farms. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, and spending time with friends.

Doctorate Students

Dr. Amilcar Bisekere

Dr. Amilcar Bisekere (DVM) is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pathobiology, with a collaborative specialization in One Health, at the University of Guelph. He joined the WHAM Lab in Fall 2023 with concern for global health challenges and a desire to contribute to solutions. From the One Health approach, his research focuses on understanding the spillover of zoonotic pathogens at human-domestic animal-wildlife interfaces. Currently, he is investigating the distribution and transmission pathways of water and fecal-borne zoonotic pathogens among people, domestic animals, and endangered lemurs in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar. He aims to gain experience in One Health research, particularly in water quality and sanitation in low-resource settings, zoonotic disease transmission, and the use of advanced laboratory techniques. He also values the chance to collaborate with researchers committed to improving global health. Outside of research, Amilcar enjoys going to the movies and spending time with friends.

Destina Mattrasingh

Destina joined the WHAM Lab in 2023 as a PhD candidate completing a degree in Pathobiology at the University of Guelph. Destina works on pathogens and AMR surveillance in animal agriculture and has been working towards applying One Health to this work. She is also enthusiastic about science outreach and access for the public as a means of equity and community0building. Outside of academia, Destina is a gardener and rollerskater.

Samantha Hobson

Samantha joined the WHAM lab in 2024 as a PhD student in Epidemiology and One Health, registered in the Department of Population Medicine. Her research is focused on climate and zoonotic diseases in companion animals. Samantha is currently working on a project investigating the relationship between meteorological factors and the presence of Leptospira spp in surface water in Guelph. She is excited to learn laboratory techniques for investigating waterborne pathogens from the WHAM team. Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with friends/ family, hiking, and reading a book with her two cats.

Masters Students

Carly Dinga

Carly joined the WHAM lab in September 2023 as a M.Sc student at the University of Guelph. She is working on a project to identify effects of rotational grazing practices on pathogen presence on beef cattle farms. She initially joined the lab out of an interest in One Health research and to gain experience in different aspects of environmental microbiology. Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, reading books, and anything involving spending time outdoors.

Jackie Ve

Jackie joined the WHAM Lab in the Fall of 2025 as a Master of Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Guelph. His background in bacteriology and his interests in waterborne pathogens and One Health drew him to the lab. His work in the lab focuses on culturing viable microorganisms from concentrated water samples. In his free time, Jackie enjoys powerlifting, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Emily Tabakos

Emily joined the WHAM lab in the Fall of 2025 as a Master of Pathobiology student specializing in One Health at the University of Guelph. Her passion for microbiology, public health, and infectious diseases led her to join the lab. Her current project focuses on comparing physician prescribing practices for pediatric respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses across clinical settings in Pennsylvania, USA. Outside of research, Emily enjoys painting, cooking, and hiking.

Undergraduate Students

Gopiga Dass

Gopiga Dass is an undergraduate sophomore biology major at Temple University. She joined the WHAM Lab in September 2022 and enjoys working on the WET Trial. Gopiga explains, “As someone who wants to enter the medical field, I am so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to public health research, as I believe both fields go hand in hand in improving the health and well-being of individuals and their families” When she is not working, Gopiga loves watching movies and visiting parks.

Abbey Robertson

Abbey joined the WHAM Lab in the summer of 2024 as an undergraduate research assistant on the rotational grazing and One Health project. Her interest in infectious disease and water inequality drew her to the lab. As she moves into her final year of studying biomedical science at the University of Guelph, she looks forward to continuing to contribute to the WHAM lab with a senior research project. When she isn’t studying, Abbey enjoys dance, reading, and being outdoors.

Lotte Backx

Lotte joined the WHAM Lab in the summer of 2025 as an undergraduate research assistant, contributing to the Climate Factors and waterborne pathogen: Environmental presence and infections in companion animals’ project as well as assisting others in the WHAM lab. She was drawn to the lab by her curiosity in how environmental conditions influence the transmission of infectious waterborne disease within the One Health framework. Now entering her final semester of Biological Sciences at the University of Guelph, Lotte is excited to continue her work in the WHAM Lab through a fourth-year research project. In her free time, she enjoyed running, travelling, and spending time outdoors.

Garrett Terpstra

Garrett is an undergraduate in Microbiology major, at the University of Guelph. He joined the WHAM lab in May 2025 as a summer research student working on the climate factors and waterborne pathogens: Environmental presence and infections in companion animals project, where he is focusing on characterizing Leptospira in urban surface waters across Guelph, Ontario, and associating prevalence with meteorological factors. His passion for infectious diseases, water quality and microbial ecology led him to join the WHAM team, and he looks forward to assisting in the continuation of the project as he continues to complete his undergraduate studies. Garrett enjoys mountain biking, being outdoors, cooking, and playing sports.

Past Students and Staff

Debbie Lee, PhD.

Debbie joined the WHAM Lab in 2018 as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow after graduating with her PhD from Emory University in the same year. Debbie has done work with annular reactors and has been a part of the WET Trial since its infancy. She joined the lab due to her interest in drinking water quality and the WHAM Lab’s projects in this area. When she’s not working, she enjoys riding her bike up the Schuylkill River.

Miriam Wamsley

Miriam joined WHAM Lab in the fall of 2018 to assist with the planning of the WET Trial while pursuing her doctorate in Epidemiology. She focused her dissertation on spatiotemporal analyses of waterborne illness using Bayesian modeling. In her free time, Miriam enjoys singing (she’s an alto) and biking. She finds relaxation through baking. And, if she has enough free time on her hands, you’ll find her in one of the national parks in the western U.S. with her family.

Jemaneh Habtewold, PhD.

Before joining WHAM LAB in 2021 as Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Jemaneh earned his PhD in Environmental Science in 2018. His work with the lab includes projects in the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater using a passive sampling approach, evaluating passive sampling approaches of fecal indicator bacteria in recreational water, and assessing the effects of rotational grazing on the microbial quality of surface and groundwater. He joined the lab due to his interest in the research projects that aim to quantify pathogens in environmental samples (water, soil, and feces) using advanced molecular methods including qPCR and dPCR. When he’s not working, he loves to read and watch soccer.

Erin Becker

Erin joined WHAM Lab in 2022 as an undergraduate research assistant as she works toward her degree in Biomedical Science at the University of Guelph. She works on the lab’s rotational grazing and One Health projects. She joined the lab due to her interest in the field of One Health, animals, and water safety. Erin grew up on a farm and has a particular fondness of cows. When she’s not working in the lab, she loves being outdoors, cooking, and travelling.

Erica Hollman

Erica is a Microbiology Co-Op student at the University of Guelph, who joined WHAM Lab in 2022. As a research assistant, Erica collects soil, water and animal faecal samples from various farms to analyze them for total coliforms and E. coli. She also literature searches and assists with data entry. Erica joined the lab because she is very interested in understanding the mechanisms and situations that result in the development of antimicrobial resistance, which is a large focus of the Rotational Grazing/One Health lab. She enjoys rollerblading and gardening. Erica is also learning German and Spanish.

Ilya Law

Ilya is a Masters of Pathobiology student at the University of Guelph who joined WHAM Lab in 2021. He works in the lab on projects aimed at analyzing water quality and monitoring for potential pathogens. He is working on a project that is designed to determine the optimal method for water sampling of microorganisms from specific aquatic environments. In his own words, Ilya joined the lab “to gather valuable experiences and work alongside a great and encouraging group of people. Joining this lab will also teach me new laboratory techniques that will advance my knowledge in the field and increase opportunities post degree.” When he is not working in the lab, he enjoys spending time with friends and playing basketball. He also enjoys playing the piano.

Peter Husnik

Peter is a Research Coordinator at the WHAM Lab. He works primarily with the WET Trial and the lab’s SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Project. Peter is working toward his MPH in Epidemiology at Temple University while working with the lab, with an expected graduation in 2025. He joined the lab because of his love for research and finds the work WHAM Lab does in the field of water and health rewarding. When he’s not at work, Peter enjoys being active, reading books, and drinking tea.

Julia Timmoneri

Julia joined WHAM Lab in 2021 as an undergraduate research assistant working toward her degree in Public Health with an Epidemiology concentration at Temple University. She works primarily on the WET Trial. Julia joined the lab for the abundance of laboratory experience it provides in a field she finds interesting. Julia enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and exploring the city of Philadelphia. She’s been a vegan for over three years!

Fighting waterborne diseases in vulnerable populations since 2015