Wastewater Surveillance Laboratory
Northern Illinois University
Now Accepting Internship Applications for Fall 2026
To apply, send your cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts to shyder1@niu.edu
Get to Know Us
The NIU Wastewater Surveillance Lab was established in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an initial focus on tracking SARS-CoV-2 to support a safe return to campus. By monitoring wastewater, the lab provided rapid, community-level insight into disease spread, independent of individual testing access.
Building on this foundation, the lab has evolved into a comprehensive wastewater-based epidemiology program. Using advanced molecular platforms, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and digital PCR (dPCR), we now monitor a broad range of pathogens, from respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses to emerging public health threats and cancer-associated biomarkers.
Today, the lab serves as both a public health resource and a research engine. We provide early warning of community health trends, support regional partners, and maintain the flexibility to rapidly respond to new and emerging concerns. At the same time, the lab functions as a hands-on training environment, where undergraduate and graduate researchers gain direct experience with modern molecular techniques and real-world data.
Together, this work positions the NIU Wastewater Surveillance Lab as a scalable, community-centered model for surveillance, research, and workforce development.
