Dr. Kelsey Jesser is a Clinical Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington.
Dr. Jesser is a microbiologist with research interests at the intersection of microbial ecology and public health. She uses bioinformatic and molecular biology tools to study the ecology, virulence traits and human health impacts of environmental human pathogens.
Dr. Jesser's current research is focused on understanding the environmental distributions and human health impacts of enteric pathogens in Ecuador and Mozambique. Her projects include:
- Evaluation of a wet-market hygiene intervention for reducing transmission of zoonotic infection and antibiotic resistance genes in poultry products in Maputo, Mozambique
- Use of microbial source tracking to understand child exposures to human and animal sources of environmental fecal contamination in northern Ecuador.
- Evaluations of how environmental conditions and access to water, sanitation and hygiene impact infection, the gut microbiome and inflammatory immune markers in Ecuadorian children.
I firmly believe that diverse perspectives and ideas are integral to meaningful research and educational experiences, and are essential for productive and fulfilling personal and professional lives. As a woman in science, I have had experiences in academia that made me feel small and upset, and these are at the forefront of my mind as I consider and evaluate my own actions, words and intentions to ensure that they are affirming rather than harmful. I aim to approach my professional relationships with nuance, compassion and space for the unique experiences and intersectional identities of others.
My current research is focused on infectious diseases in vulnerable populations in international settings. There are historical imbalances in global public health research, and I am committed to establishing and proactively maintaining fairness, respect, equity and mutual benefit in my relationships with international collaborators.
I have strong collaborative relationships with researchers in the United States (UW, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, Rutgers and Emory University), Ecuador (Universidad San Francisco de Quito) and Mozambique (Instituto Nacional de Saúde and Universidade Eduardo Mondlane). I am excited by the close connections DEOHS and UW have with state and local agencies and communities, and am looking forward to the opportunity to develop new research partnerships as a new faculty member.
I aim to create a respectful and inclusive learning environment, where students can ask questions, engage with me and with each other, and seek out new information. I want students to leave my classes with real-world skills that enable them to apply their knowledge to current research and contemporary issues. I believe that curiosity enables independent thought and lines of inquiry and allows students to make connections between the ideas and topics that interest and excite them. I aim to use hands-on activities and multimodal active learning strategies to empower students to develop and explore their own curiosity.
