Komalpreet Singh, Ph.D. Candidate, Environmental Engineering Sciences Department, UF
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ABSTRACT
Advancements in remote sensing and satellite technology are leveraged to pioneer a proactive approach to infectious disease detection, shifting the paradigm from reactive to anticipatory public health action within coastal and aquatic environments. Focusing on Vibriosis, a growing public health concern, this study combines high-resolution satellite data with GeoAI and advanced machine learning techniques to understand the environmental conditions favorable for Vibrio species, a water-borne pathogen and then predicting their presence. This engineering framework highlights how specific water quality drivers and hydrological processes within coastal watersheds such as Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Phosphate, and Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) are critical in shaping Vibrio habitats. By employing advanced methods, this study developed highly accurate models that provide precise, season-specific insights into hydrological risk gradients, enabling targeted surveillance, coastal public health and improved water quality management. This research also establishes a direct link between large-scale climatic phenomena like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the spatio-temporal dynamics of vibriosis outbreaks, demonstrating how changes in coastal water systems can influence disease risk. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a comprehensive tool for developing global predictive systems, empowering public health officials and water resource managers with the insights needed for early intervention and better preparedness.
BIO
Komalpreet Singh is a doctoral candidate in Environmental Health Engineering at the University of Florida, originally from Punjab, India. His research at the Geohealth and Hydrology lab focuses on the intersection of climate and public health, leveraging geospatial data to understand and mitigate waterborne threats like Vibrio. His work involves analyzing satellite imagery to predict the presence and behavior of these pathogens. He also has hands-on field and lab experience, analyzing water and oyster samples before and after hurricanes to study pathogenic vibrio proliferation.
He was recently recognized for his contributions, receiving the Sally and William Glick Graduate Research Endowment Award and serving as an NSF GeoHealth intern. In this role, he collaborated with public health officials to monitor pathogens in South Florida, and his research on flesh-eating bacteria was featured in the Tampa Bay Times. He is committed to a career dedicated to reducing public health threats from pathogens and harmful algal blooms.
POSTCARD
