Microbiological and Chemical Exposure Assessment Staff
Jennifer L. Cashdollar
Title: Microbiologist
EPA Division: Microbial and Chemical Assessment Research Division
EPA Branch: Biohazard Assessment Research Branch
Narrative:
My research focus is on the development of methods to detect viral pathogens in drinking water including examination of tissue culture methods to improve the detection of culturable waterborne enteric viruses; to standardize methods for detecting viruses in water including sample collection, filtration, concentration, and analysis by cell culture and molecular methods; to evaluate new methods for viral inactivation; to evaluate new viability assays for enteric viruses beyond traditional cell culture techniques; to examine the host cell’s molecular response to viral infection in order to improve the culture of slow-growing or non-culturable viruses.
Education/Training:
- M.S., Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 2006
- B.S., Microbiology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 1997.
Professional Experience:
- 2001-present, Microbiologist, Biohazard Assessment Research Branch, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH
- 1998-2001, Post-Graduate Research Fellow, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH
- 1997-1998, Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellow, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA and Florida Department of Health, Tampa, FL
- 1996-1997, Laboratory Technician and Intern, Hoosier Microbiological Laboratory, Muncie, IN
Professional Societies and Affiliations:
- American Society for Microbiology
- American Water Works Association
- Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
- Toastmasters International
Select Awards and Honors:
- 2011 ORD Bronze Medal for Commendable Service-EPA Method 1615 Development Team
- 2008 Federal Service Excellence Award-Team Award
- 2007 NERL Special Achievement Award-Goal 2-Teamwork Award
- 2007 NERL Special Achievement Award-Meritorious Research Support Award
- Scientific Reviewer, American Water Works Association Research Foundation Project Advisory Committee, 2004-present
- Scientific Reviewer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Special Emphasis Panel, June 2004
Select Presentations:
- Cashdollar, J.L. and G.S. Fout. 2011. Evaluation of method 1615 with poliovirus and murine norovirus using environmental water samples. Water Quality and Technology Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
- Cashdollar, J.L. and G.S. Fout. 2011. Evaluation of method 1615 with poliovirus and murine norovirus using environmental water samples. Laboratory Technical Information Group (LTIG) Annual Meeting, U.S. EPA, Fredricksburg, MD.
- Cashdollar, J.L. 2009. Water sample filtration methods using VIRADEL procedures. Water Quality Technology Conference, Workshop on Current Methods for Recovering Viruses from Water Samples, Seattle, Washington.
- Cashdollar, J.L. 2006. Re-use of electropositive cartridge filters for concentrating viruses from water. Large Volume Sample Preparation for Waterborne Pathogens Workshop, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Cashdollar, J.L., G.S. Fout, D.R. Dahling, and S.U. Parshionikar. 2005. A collaborative effort to identify the causative agents of two waterborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Wyoming. Poster presentation at the U.S. EPA Science Forum, Washington, D.C.