A Research Technician at WEST Center, Erika Stark analyzes samples for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, studies microplastics in soils, and recently completed a master’s degree in Public Health. 

With growing concern that land application of biosolids could be banned due to possible PFAS contamination of groundwater and/or crop uptake, WEST Center and others are developing a collaborative study to evaluate the incidence and mobility of PFAS following land application of biosolids. WEST invites partners to join this study!

In early September 2021, WEST Center researchers were awarded grants from federal agencies to 1) evaluate water quality for direct potable reuse and 2) assess viability and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater across the U.S.

In a September 2021 article, Arizona Republic writer Ian James describes how reclaimed water in action is supporting river life in the Southwest. Technologies to improve water quality and purification efficiencies are a major focus of WEST Center research.

Installed in WEST in August 2021, two new digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) instruments will provide rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 and variants in wastewater, essential to monitoring community health.

As students return to the University of Arizona amid a surge of COVID-19 cases, UArizona plans to use wastewater testing - led by WEST Center - to again help control outbreaks. Read and watch the full story produced by KOLD News 13.

A doctoral candidate working at WEST Center, Zachary Binger focuses on optimization of membrane systems, developing computer models to increase water recovery and reduce energy consumption.

Demonstrating the valuable cooperation of engineers and microbiologists at WEST Center, a new publication out of UArizona WEST looks at membrane distillation’s effectiveness as a barrier to Coronavirus and Bacteriophage.

For the fifth year in a row, the University of Arizona has earned the top spot in the U.S. for its work in the field of water resources. UArizona is again ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 2 globally in water resources in ShanghaiRanking's 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. Read the full story by Nick Prevenas in UA News.

Arriving from Pakistan in February 2021, Sabir Nawaz performed molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance genes during his six months at WEST Center.