Curtis H. Stumpf

Curtis H. Stumpf is a microbiologist with a focus on water and food-based microbial pathogens and various detection methods for the protection of public health. He has broad interests in water and food microbiology, but is specifically interested in rapid biosensor and molecular methods for detection. Stumpf currently works for Crystal Diagnostics Ltd., a novel liquid crystal biosensor company located at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. He previously worked for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy conducting research for threatened and endangered aquatic organisms, has performed as a consultant for private sector water research along the east coast of the United States, and currently acts as an editor for American Journal Experts.

Stumpf has extensive experience with emerging molecular methods (DNA based assays) to monitor contamination and better determine human specific vs. natural fecal contamination in marine and freshwater systems along the east coast of the United States and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. With Crystal Diagnostics he has worked for the last several years to develop rapid assays for water and food pathogens using a unique biosensor platform. Through method development spearheaded by Stumpf, the liquid crystal-based platform biosensor recently received third-party accreditation. In addition, research utilizing this liquid crystal-based platform is currently sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency in the Great Lakes for rapid detection of traditional and emerging microbial water indicators.

One of Stumpf’s other research interests is the strong connections between water quality, human health, and socio-economic factors in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands are well-known for their biodiversity. What is less understood is that the island population and tourism industry are growing rapidly, outpacing an already insufficient water and wastewater infrastructure. It is this complex challenge facing water resources in the Galapagos Islands that Curt will address as he works to coalesce the most recent water quality research into a book.

Following a BS in Environmental Science from Allegheny College, Stumpf received his PhD from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill in Marine Science in 2011. Stumpf received the UNC Graduate Impact Award for his research related to microbial contamination of shellfishing waters in North Carolina.