Rob Atwill
DVM, MPVM, PhD
Director
Research Interests
Dr. Atwill’s major research focus is on the epidemiology and medical ecology of infectious diseases potentially transferred between livestock, wildlife and humans; assessing microbial contamination of the environment by livestock and wildlife; with special emphasis on microbial contamination of surface and groundwater from watersheds located in the Sierra Nevada Range, foothills along the San Joaquin Valley, and coastal regions of central and northern California. Key methods involve linking process-based experimental work with longitudinal epidemiological studies and molecular characterization to characterize rates of environmental loading, fate and hydrological transport, and dissemination of infectious diseases within and between host populations.
His characterization of the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is a model for environmental studies of disease organisms that may affect animals and humans. His research program, incorporating epidemiological models and modern diagnostic testing methods to assess potential health risks, is noted for its collaboration and practical insights.