Benjamin

J.

Davis

,

PhD

My research focuses on applying spatial analytical methodology to the field of public health, with a particular interest in food production and the food system. I am also interested in better characterizing how food-borne illnesses will worsen in the wake of a changing climate.

My current research involves developing spatial-temporal statistical methods for optimally predicting concentrations of infectious shellfish-borne bacteria that are naturally prevalent in brackish waters. This work involves development of Non-Euclidean based geostatistical methods for use in non-convex spatial domains, such as the Chesapeake Bay and the Puget Sound estuaries. This development and application is currently funded through a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases R01 entitled “Characterizing the Spatial Temporal Dynamics and Human Health Risks of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Bacteria in Estuarine Environments”. My continued participation in this project will work towards operationalizing these models for the shellfish industry and quantifying the spatial-temporal variation of the risk of food-borne illness from shellfish consumption.

I am actively involved in the recently formed Johns Hopkins Spatial Science for Public Health Center. My role includes expanding the center both in its intra- and extramural activities as well as assisting in bringing on new staff to help support the substantial amount of spatial sciences research occurring at the University.