Crystal Hepp

Crystal Hepp is an Associate Professor in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems at Northern Arizona University. Her interdisciplinary research bridges computational biology, public health, and infectious disease genomics, with a strong emphasis on genomic surveillance and wastewater-based epidemiology. She actively collaborates with public health agencies in Arizona and contributes to statewide pathogen monitoring efforts.

Research Interests: Dr. Hepp's work spans infectious disease epidemiology, genomic surveillance, zoonotic pathogens (including Onchocerca lupi and rabies virus), whole genome sequencing, and computational modeling. Her research integrates molecular data with public health frameworks to track and respond to emerging pathogens. She has published extensively on wastewater-based monitoring of SARS-CoV-2, genomic epidemiology of bacterial infections like Group A Streptococcus and MRSA, and the evolution of parasitic nematodes.

The recent publications reveal a consistent focus on applying genomic tools to real-world public health challenges, particularly in rural and underserved settings. Her work often involves multidisciplinary teams and addresses both human and wildlife health, aligning with the One Health approach. Themes include pathogen detection, transmission dynamics, and the development of surveillance methodologies.

Scientific Contributions:

• Developed frameworks for integrating wastewater data into public health decision-making.
• Advanced genomic surveillance of infectious agents in healthcare and community settings.
• Contributed to understanding the phylogeography of tick-borne pathogens and their endosymbionts.
• Published in high-impact journals including Frontiers in Public Health, Journal of Infectious Diseases, and PLoS ONE.

Dr. Hepp has co-authored numerous datasets related to tick and nematode genomics, indicating strong data science and bioinformatics expertise. While specific advising roles or grants are not mentioned in the text, her collaborative publication record suggests active engagement in research teams and projects focused on emerging infectious diseases and genomic public health.