You are here

  • Home > 
  • Directory > 
  • Karen C . Dannemiller

Karen Dannemiller

  • Assistant Professor, Civil, Envir & Geod Eng
  • Assistant Professor, COPH -Environmental Health Sci
  • Assistant Professor
  • 491B Hitchcock Hall
    2070 Neil Avenue
    Columbus, OH 43210
  • 614-292-4031

About

Professor Karen Dannemiller's interdisciplinary research integrates engineering with microbiology and addresses emerging health challenges and environmental concerns using -omics approaches. Within the indoor environment, we are simultaneously exposed to thousands of chemicals and microorganisms which compose our indoor exposome, and these exposures are different from those of our ancestors. Broadly, the goal of her work is to understand these exposures, their sources, and their impact on human health. Dr. Dannemiller's unique background combines training in both engineering and public health to tackle difficult questions, particularly with regards to exposures in the built environment, where we spend 90% of our time.

Dannemiller graduated with honors in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Brown University and earned her M.S., M.Phil, and Ph.D. at Yale University in Chemical and Environmental Engineering. During this time, she also completed an internship at the California Department of Public Health in the Indoor Air Quality Program. Professor Dannemiller also served as a Microbiology of the Built Environment Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University. Her work there work improved our understanding of human exposures linked to childhood asthma development and severity. Her research also elucidated resident microbial populations and fundamental transport processes occurring in homes. Dannemiller's current research is on microbial activity in house dust, indoor exposures, and asthma. 

In addition to a fundamental background in engineering and quantitative sciences, her skill set in microbiology includes phylogenetics, metagenomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics and allows for exploration of microbial communities and biological processes. Professor Dannemiller has extensive experience with next-generation DNA sequencing of fungi and bacteria and using this data she has also addressed relevant challenges bioinformatics, including software development, and in statistics, to demonstrate complex associations with human health outcomes.

Professor Dannemiller teaches classes in Risk Assessment, Probability and Statistics for Engineers, and another class titled Engineering Design for Environmental Health.

Research Interests

  • Integration of engineering with microbiology to address emerging health challenges and environmental concerns
  • Phylogenetics, metagenomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics

 

Visit Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow @KarenCDannemill

 

 

Honors

  • January, 2020

    2020 Buckeye Engineering Women in Executive Leadership (BEWEL) Leadership in Innovation Award.

  • January, 2020

    2020 Lumley Engineering Research Award.

  • December, 2019

    Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award. .

  • January, 2019

    2019 IMR Early Career Innovator of the Year.

  • January, 2018

    2018 Nominee for Early Career Innovator of the Year.

  • April, 2017-
    January, 2017

    2017 Distinguished Denman Research Mentor Award.

  • April, 2016-
    April, 2016

    Early Career Workshop Travel Award.

Journal Articles

2020

2019

2018

  • *Bope, A.; Weir, M.H.; Pruden, A.; Morowitz, M. et al., 2018, "Translating Research to Policy at the NCSE 2017 Symposium ‘Microbiology of the Built Environment: Implications for Health and Design'." Microbiome 6, no. article 160,
  • Cox, J.; Isiugo, K.; Ryan, P.; Grinshpun, S.A. et al., 2018, "Effectiveness of a Portable Air Cleaner in Removing Aerosol Particles in Homes Close to Highways." Indoor Air 28, no. 6, 818-827 - 818-827.
  • Castner, J.; Gehrke, G.E.; Shapiro, N.; Dannemiller, K., 2018, "Community Interest and Feasibility of Using a Novel Smartphone-based Formaldehyde Exposure Detection Technology." Public Health Nursing 35, no. 4, 261-272 - 261-272.
  • Hegarty, B.; Dannemiller, K.C.; Peccia, J., 2018, "Gene Expression of Indoor Fungal Communities under Damp Building Conditions: Implications for Human Health." Indoor Air 28, no. 4, 548-558 - 548-558.

2017

2016

2015

2014

  • Yamamoto, N.; Dannemiller, K.; Bibby, K.; Peccia, J., 2014, "Identification Accuracy and Diversity Reproducibility Associated with Internal Transcribed Spacer-based Fungal Taxonomic Library Preparation." Environmental Microbiology 16, no. 9, 2764-2776 - 2764-2776.
  • Dannemiller, K.; Reeves, D.; Bibby, K.; Yamamoto, N. et al., 2014, "Fungal High-throughput Taxonomic Identification Tool for Use with Next-Generation Sequencing." Journal of Basic Microbiology 54, no. 4, 315-321 - 315-321.
  • Dannemiller, K.; Lang-Yona, N.; Yamamoto, N.; Rudich, Y. et al., 2014, "Combining Real-time PCR and Next-generation DNA Sequencing to Provide Quantitative Comparisons of Fungal Aerosol Populations." Atmospheric Environment 84, 113-121 - 113-121.
  • Dannemiller, K.; Mendell, M.; Macher, J.; Kumagai, K. et al., 2014, "Next-generation DNA Sequencing Reveals that Low Fungal Diversity in House Dust is Associated with Childhood Asthma Development." Indoor Air 24, no. 3, 236-247 - 236-247.

2013

  • Dannemiller, K.; Murphy, J.; Dixon, S.; Pennell, K. et al., 2013, "Formaldehyde Concentrations in Household Air of Asthma Patients Determined Using Colorimetric Detector Tubes." Indoor Air 23, no. 4, 285-294 - 285-294.
  • Lang-Yona, N.; Levin, Y.; Dannemiller, K.; Yarden, O. et al., 2013, "Changes in Atmospheric CO2 Influence the Allergenicity of Aspergillus Fumigatus." Global Change Biology 19, no. 8, 2381-2388 - 2381-2388.

2012

  • Lang-Yona, N.; Dannemiller, K.; Yamamoto, N.; Burshtein, N. et al., 2012, "Annual Distribution of Allergenic Fungal Spores in Atmospheric Particulate Matter in the Eastern Mediterranean; A Comparative Study between Ergosterol and Quantitative PCR Analysis." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 12, no. 5, 2681-2690 - 2681-2690.

2011

  • Low, S.; Dannemiller, K.; Yao, M.; Yamamoto, N. et al., 2011, "The Allergenicity of Aspergillus Fumigatus Conidia is Influenced by Growth Temperature." Fungal Biology 115, no. 7, 625-632 - 625-632.

Presentations

  • "The Nexus of Housing Characteristics, Indoor Microbial Communities, and Asthma Severity." 2017, Presented at Implications of MoBE for Health and Design. MoBE 2017: Microbiology of the Built Environment Research and Applications Symposium,
  • "Phthalate Degradation in Floor Dust due to Abiotic and Biotic Processes." 2017, Presented at Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professor (AEESP),
  • "Strategies, Tools, and Tips for Teaching in Environmental Engineering and Sciences." 2017, Presented at Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professor (AEESP),
  • "Using Digital PCR to Improve Quantitative Measurement of Microbial DNA in the Built Environment." 2017, Presented at QIIME 2 Workshop,
  • "Improving Quantitative Measurement of Microbial DNA in Homes with Digital PCR." 2017, Presented at U21 Undergraduate Research Conference,
  • "The Indoor Microbiome: A Model of Fungal Growth and Implications for Childhood Asthma." 2017, Presented at University of Pittsburgh,
  • "The Indoor Microbiome: Implications for Childhood Asthma." 2017, Presented at Columbia University,
  • "Microbiology of the Built Environment: Implications for Health and Design." 2017, Presented at National Council of Science and the Environment (NCSE) 2017 Conference and Global Forum,
  • "Improving Quantitative Measurement of Microbial DNA in Homes with Digital PCR." 2017, Presented at National Council of Science and the Environment (NCSE) 2017 Conference and Global Forum,
  • "Modeling Microbial Growth in Carpet Dust under Diurnal Variations in Relative Humidity." 2017, Presented at National Council of Science and the Environment (NCSE) 2017 Conference and Global Forum,
  • "Microbial Activity and Phthalate Degradation in Carpet." 2016, Presented at American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR),
  • "The Indoor Microbiome: What Research Can Tell Us about Asthma and Housing." 2016, Presented at John Glenn College of Public Affair’s Glenn Colloquium Series, The Ohio State University,
  • "Elevated Relative Humidity May Cause Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Growth in Carpet." 2016, Presented at Mycological Society of America,
  • "Analysis of 16S/ITS Region DNA Sequencing Data for Detection of Environmental Bacteria and Fungi." 2016, Presented at University of Cincinnati,
  • "Emerging Knowledge from and Applicability of DNA Sequencing in Damp Building Investigations; Potential Uses for Practitioners Today." 2016, Presented at Indoor Air,
  • "The Indoor Microbiome and Associations with Childhood Asthma." 2016, Presented at University of Cincinnati,
  • "We’re Surrounded: Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Communities." 2016, Presented at Environmental Science Graduate Program Seminar Series,
  • "Design of an Inexpensive Ambient Formaldehyde Sampling Device." 2008, Presented at AIChE,
  • "Out of Thin Air: Relative Humidity and Fungal Exposure in the Indoor Environment." 2018, Presented at Microbiology Department Seminar Series,
  • "The Indoor Microbiome: Implications for Childhood Asthma and Building Design." 2018, Presented at Ohio Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Session,
  • "Modeling Microbial Growth in Carpet Dust at Varying Relative Humidity Levels Using the “Time-of-Wetness” Model." 2018, Presented at Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Ohio Valley Chapter Meeting,
  • "Fungi and Bacteria in Different Aerosol Particle Size Fractions on the International Space Station (ISS)." 2018, Presented at Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Ohio Valley Chapter Meeting,
  • "Indoor Exposures to Microbes and Chemicals: Implications for Childhood Asthma." 2018, Presented at Ohio Healthy Homes Network Spring Forum,
  • "Factors Affecting Microbial Growth on Building Materials." 2018, Presented at American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbe Annual Meeting 2018,
  • "Asthma and Carpets: How Moisture in Homes Impacts Human Exposure to Fungal Allergens." 2018, Presented at Gordon Research Conference on the Microbiology of the Built Environment (MOBE),
  • "Gene Expression of Fungal Communities in Damp Buildings: Implications for Human Health." 2018, Presented at Indoor Air,
  • "Analytical Methods for Microorganisms in the Indoor Environment and Challenges for Exposure Assessment." 2018, Presented at Indoor Air,
  • "Modeling Microbial Growth in Carpet Dust at Varying Relative Humidity Levels Using the “Time-of-Wetness” Model." 2018, Presented at Indoor Air,
  • "Interactions between Indoor Chemistry and Microbes: Influence of Moisture." 2018, Presented at Chemistry of Indoor Environments (CIE) Science Meeting,
  • "Exposure Assessment by Measuring Microbial DNA in House Dust Using Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (dPCR)." 2018, Presented at International Aerosol Conference,
  • "Application of the Time-of-Wetness Model to Fungal Growth in Carpet Dust." 2018, Presented at International Aerosol Conference,
  • "Microbial Growth in the Built Environment: Implications for Health and Spacecraft Design." 2019, Presented at Nature Conference on the Microbiology of Human Spaceflight,
  • "Report of Prenatal Exposure to Pesticide Predicts Infant Rhinitis and Water Eyes Without a Cold." 2019, Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting,
  • "The Presence of Carpet Alters Human Exposure to Microorganisms in the Home." 2019, Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting,
  • "Health Hazards of Yeast Exposure: What have We Learned from Epidemiological and Clinical Studies?." 2019, Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting,
  • "Advances in Measurement Methods for Formaldehyde and Mold in the Indoor Environment." 2019, Presented at Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) Research Workgroup,
  • "Plenary #3: The Indoor Microbiome: Implications for Children with Asthma and Astronauts on the International Space Station." 2019, Presented at Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Conference 2019,
  • "Keynote: The Indoor Mycobiome: Linking Indoor Dampness to Human Health." 2019, Presented at Healthy Buildings Summit,
  • "Moisture and Microbial Growth Indoors: Implications for Asthma and Space Travel." 2019, Presented at Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Seminar Series,
  • "Microbial and Non-microbial Volatile Organic Compounds from Indoor Materials Subjected to Dust and Moisture." 2019, Presented at ISES/ISIAQ 2019,
  • "Current Methods for Quantitative Measurement of Environmental Fungi and Bacteria." 2019, Presented at Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) Workshop III,
  • "Fungal Degradation of Polyurethane Foam in Homes." 2019, Presented at World Congress on Undergraduate Research (WorldCUR),
  • "Microbial Growth in Dust: Implications for Health and Spacecraft Design." 2018, Presented at NASA Glenn Research Center,
  • Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Communities Experience Growth at Elevated Relative Humidity. 2016, Presented at Indoor Air,
  • "The Home is Where My Heart Is: Development of My Research Program on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)." 2020, Presented at Discover What’s Wildly Possible: Pathways in Civil Engineering Seminar Series,
  • "Defining a healthy indoor environment: with a focus on fungi and formaldehyde, on earth and in space.." 2019, Presented at Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Seminar Series,
  • "Detection of Environmentally Ubiquitous Vishniacozyma victoriae (syn. Cryptococcus victoriae) in the Homes of Asthmatic and Non-asthmatic Children in New York City.." 2020, Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting,
  • "Fungal Allergen Production in Floor Dust: The Effects of Relative Humidity, House Dust, and Carpet Fiber Material.." 2020, Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting,
  • "Anti-Alternaria IgE Antibodies are Associated with Emergency Department Visits among Low-income Children with Asthma in New York City.." 2020, Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting,
  • "Associations of Fungal Taxa with Neighborhood Asthma Prevalence in House Dust from Asthmatic Children in the NAAS Cohort.." 2020, Presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting,

Papers in Proceedings

2019

2018

Patents

  • "DNA-based Test for House Dust to Indicate the Quantity of Known Asthma Triggers."