Sarah Jane Payne

Sarah Jane Payne is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Queen's University, affiliated with the Smith Engineering school. She holds a cross-appointment at the Beaty Water Research Centre. Her research focuses on the interplay between water quality, pipe materials, and the drinking water microbiome, emphasizing real-time sensor development and water quality management strategies. She previously worked in federal public service roles at Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada.

Dr. Payne's educational background includes a PhD in Civil and Resource Engineering from Dalhousie University (2013), a Master's degree from the same university (2007), and a BASc in Environmental Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2003). She also holds a Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (2012).

Her research explores how upstream environmental changes impact downstream water quality, particularly through molecular biological tools and analytical methods. She actively collaborates across disciplines to address water quality challenges. Key areas include electrochemical water analysis, wastewater-based epidemiology, and sensor technology for real-time monitoring. She is a Professional Engineer registered in Nova Scotia and a member of the American Water Works Association.

Current supervision includes postdoctoral fellows Abdul Alashraf and Armineh Azizi. Her work has been featured in outlets like Google Scholar and ResearchGate, with a focus on advancing water quality science and policy.