Microbiology: Education, R&D and Market

Maria King is an expert in the dynamic spatial and temporal collection and characterization of aerosolized bio- and nanoparticles and monitoring their fate in the environment by creating ventilation based airflow pattern models. Her current research is focusing on using the wetted wall cyclone bioaerosol collector systems developed in her laboratory to sample bioaerosols in large air volumes from a variety of environments, including poultry units and meat processing facilities, and track their movement by ventilation based computational air flow modeling. Plating and microbiome analysis resulted in numerous samples that are positive for Salmonella and Shiga toxin producing E. coli. Displacement ventilation solutions resulted in optimized sanitation in the facilities.