Postdoctoral Researchers

Chang Soo Lee, PhD

I earned my PhD from the Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea in 2007. I worked at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB). In May 2009 I joined Professor Jiyoung Lee’s lab as a post-doctoral researcher. I have been involved in the following environment-related topics:

1. Development of detection systems for Bacteroides, Enterococcus and norovirus based on molecular biotechnology;
2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa monitoring from aerosol and water;
3. Endospore regulation of Bacillus in food processing using functional genomics.

I enjoy playing tennis and golf, or taking a weekend trip with my family.

Cheonghoon Lee, PhD

I earned my PhD from the School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University (SNU), South Korea in Aug, 2006. I also worked at SNU as a postdoctoral research fellow until August 2010 working on developing methods for detecting pathogenic bacteria and enteric viruses in water environments (tap water, seawater, wastewater, etc) and foods (vegetables, fruits, and shellfish) based on cell culture and molecular techniques. I joined Dr. Jiyoung Lee’s lab in September 2010. I have been involved in the following environmental and public health-related topics:

1. Enteric virus internalization in vegetables;
2. Source tracking with host-specific genetic markers (human and waterfowl).

I like watching sports (baseball, basketball, soccer, etc) and movies. I also like going for walks.

Jason Marion, PhD

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental Health Sciences. My love for lakes, streams and everything else that the Southern Ohio landscape has to offer started at childhood. My passions led me to earning degrees in Environmental Science (B.S.) and Biology (M.S.) from Morehead State University, and Environmental Health Sciences (Ph.D.) from The Ohio State University. I received a fellowship from Public Health Preparedness for Infectious Diseases (PHPID) at OSU during my doctoral years. After 10 years working for Ohio State Parks, I gained substantial interest in resolving problems with recreational water quality determination, an interest I share with Dr. Lee. My research interest is developing predictive models of recreational water quality (Marion et al. 2010) and exploring alternative methods for quantifying fecal indicators and cyanotoxin that are rapid, easy and inexpensive. Tying my work directly to human health, I am also exploring the association between self-reported human illness, swimming exposure and recreational water quality at an inland Ohio reservoir. Together, Dr. Lee and I are developing a new IMS-ATP method for rapidly detecting human fecal contamination at Lake Erie beaches with support from the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and US EPA (PI-Dr. Jiyoung Lee). Given my love for fishing and ornithology, I am often easily distracted in the field.

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PhD Candidates

Chongtao Ge

I joined Dr. Jiyoung Lee’s group as a PhD student in the Department of Food Science and Technology in 2009. My current research focus is on food safety and detection of food borne pathogens using metagenomics methods. I have studied the microbial community and foodborne pathogens in seafood with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) (Ge et al. 2012). I am also working on an ozone and UV disinfection. We study their efficiency in inactivating microbes in fresh produce as an alternative to chlorine and its impact on water quality. Now I am investigating the impact of plant stress (extreme weather events and lettuce mosaic virus) on Salmonella and hepatitis A virus internalization in fresh produce (Ge et al. 2011).

Chris Rea

I am a PhD Candidate in Environmental Health Sciences within the College of Public Health. My research interests are diverse, but include emerging infectious diseases of zoonotic origin, as well as the influence of ecological alterations and climate change on human health. My current research is focused on understanding connections between wildlife (i.e. avian species), environmental processes, and human health, especially as related to the ecology of waterborne pathogens and their impacts on recreational water quality. Prior to joining Dr. Lee’s lab in autumn 2011, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Public Health degree from the Ohio State University. I also have a strong interest in Global Health and have spent time in Bangladesh and China working on water and health-related projects. My love for nature and the outdoors has fueled my interest in environmental health sciences and when I’m not logging hours at my favorite local coffee house or in the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, biking, kayaking, or taking photos.

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Master Students

Eunyoung (Grace) Park

I’m a second year Masters of Public Health student of specialization in EHS and joined Dr. Lee’s lab in 2009. My research is how to reduce microbial risks in water using unharmful chemicals and the application for water disinfection especially for emergency preparedness. I’m studying the effectiveness of PAA for inactivating viruses and bacterial contamination in water and food. I got both a B.S. and M.S. from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. I am currently living in Upper Arlington with my husband and two sons.

Melissa Cheung

I am a Masters of Public Health student in Environmental Health Sciences. I received my B.S. in Biology from Ohio State in 2009. I’m interested in water quality issues, especially harmful algal blooms and their impact on public health. I joined Dr. Lee’s lab in 2011 and am working on measuring cyanobacteria toxin and nutrient levels in lake samples.

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Undergraduate Students

Vanessa Burrowes

After discovering that I wanted to do undergraduate research this past autumn quarter 2009, I joined Dr. Jiyoung Lee’s lab and began my research projects titled “Microbial Contamination from Failed Septic Tank Systems and Its Impact on Water Safety” and “Intense Human Impact on Microbial Contamination during the Ohio State University Annual Mirror Lake Jump 2010”. I presented at Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and American Society for Microbiology General Meeting. As I work through my undergraduate B.S. in biology with Honors Research Distinction, I hope to pursue an MPH in public health and branch out my research experiences towards the government sector, particularly towards the CDC or FDA realms. Although I am not sure which particular branch of public health I would like to engage in, I know that I do want to help improve the day-to-day living conditions of the general public before they get to the point where they need to be hospitalized. In my sparse and treasured spare time, I like to look up my favorite sheet music to play on the piano, travel around the world, and wander off to get lost in the great outdoors while taking photographs.

Susan Rymut

I am an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Food Science. Joining Dr. Lee’s lab in 2011, I now have my own project studying the internalization of Salmonella in hydroponically grown mung bean sprouts in the event of water contamination and effective sanitizing of internalized pathogens. In my free time I enjoy cooking, running, and look forward completing my first triathlon.

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Past Members (Where Are They Now?)

P. Senyo Agidi

I'm a MPH student and joined Dr. Lee's lab in October 2010. I received B.S. from College of Wooster majored in biochemistry and molecular biology. After graduation, I worked at the University of Rochester. Now I'm studying about the fate of fecal microbial contaminants along the on-site disinfection system using human-specific IMS/ATP and multiple genetic markers.

Now Mr. Agidi attends a medical school in Florida. We wish you good luck on your studying and believe that you will become an awesome doctor.

Jonathan Lutz, PhD

After completing my MPH while working in environmental consulting in Northeast Ohio, I returned to my alma mater (and hometown, Columbus) to pursue a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences. Immediately impressed by the translational nature of Dr. Lee’s work, I joined her lab to learn microbiological and molecular epidemiological techniques for pathogen detection. My research interests focus on pathogen surveillance and the disruption of transmission in the built environment. Current projects with Dr. Lee include antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in pools and spas, and the evaluation of different sampling swabs for biofilm collection and rapid analysis. Soon, we will also be comparing surface sampling methods for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and conducting a surveillance study of MRSA in the community. When not buried in an article or under a lab coat, I enjoy travel, trying new “hole in the wall” restaurants, and riding my motorcycle.

Now Dr. Lutz is Vice President at an environmental consulting firm in Cleveland.

Wannasawat “View” Ratphitagsanti, PhD

I am a postdoctoral researcher originally from Thailand. After receiving my PhD in Food Science and Technology in 2009 from The Ohio State University, I joined Dr. Jiyoung Lee’s lab. My primary research is to develop a rapid detection system of viable Bacillus spores in water, spice powders, and beverage packages using ATP bioluminescence and real-time PCR (Ratphitagsanti et al. 2012). This stream-lined two-tier procedure is fast , sensitive and simple with the omission of a time-consuming enrichment step. I am also interested in multiplex real-time PCR method that targets spo0A sporulation gene and the viability of Bacillus.

Now Dr. Ratphitagsanti is Faculty of Agro-Industry at Department of Product Development, Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kaedra Wetzel, MPH

I am a 2008 graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in biology. I entered the MPH program in fall of 2008 and began research in Dr. Lee’s lab that quarter. My project was studying microbial flora from herbs and edible flower (Wetzel et al. 2010). I also worked on preparing DNA from germ-free mice samples for DNA sequencing. Other research focused on developing a protocol for capture and recovery of P. aeruginosa from aerosols generated in the lab (Lee et al.2011). I graduated with my MPH with a specialization in Environmental Health Sciences in winter of 2010 and I am now living in the DC metro area. Currently, I am employed as an associate by ICF International, a company specializing in identifying and quantifying the effects of chemicals and pathogens on human health and the environment. When I am not working, I enjoy golfing, working out, and playing with my new dog, a clumber spaniel named Lexi.

James Rosenblum

Originally from Michigan, I earned my Bachelors degree in Biochemistry from Eastern Michigan University (2005). I later received my Master’s in Public Health from The Ohio State University: Environmental Health Science Division (2009). My exposure during my Master's program influenced my current research interest in Anaerobic Digestion (AD). I am interested in learning more about AD since it plays a significant role in the communities' environment by acting as a means of waste treatment, nutrient rich fertilizer, and alternative energy in the form of biogas. In addition to AD and its role in public health, I am also working as a graduate researcher on Dr. Jiyoung Lee's project that studies Aqueous Ozone's treatment of fresh produce. I have many interests and hobbies including international travel, scuba diving, underwater photography, flying, and a variety of sports.

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