University of South Florida
Navigation
CAS professor awarded Fulbright Fellowship[4.20.2014]
TAMPA, Fla. – Valerie J. Harwood, an integrative biology professor from the College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded a Fulbright fellowship to help develop DNA microarray for water testing in Australia.
As part of the fellowship, Harwood will work with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). She will develop a new generation microarray DNA chip for water quality assessment in Australia. Harwood will test for fecal pollution in aquatic environmental waters.
Harwood is one of the leading experts in fecal source tracking. She will work with other researchers at CSIRO to improve the technology using microarray techniques to test Australian waters. The researchers will evaluate the performance of the chips against current techniques being used in environmental studies.
“This fellowship will allow me to work directly with my long-time colleague Warish Ahmed, whom I have never met in person, and CSIRO to further our scientific and educational collaboration,” Harwood said.
Harwood also will lecture at academic institutions throughout the area on advances in water quality testing and the developing program at CSIRO. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) is an Australian-based federal government agency for scientific research. The primary goal of CSIRO is to provide new ways to benefit the Australian community through research and development.
“I plan to share information on the latest advances in testing of water for pathogenic microorganisms with students, regulators and scientists in Australia, and to firm up planning for an exchange program for graduate students between USF and CSIRO,” Harwood said.
Filed under:Arts and Sciences Integrative Biology Faculty Awards CreditsAuthor: Jasmin Lankford Contact: