Saria Otani

Saria Otani is an Associate Professor at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where she is part of the Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology and the DTU Microbes Initiative. Her research is centered on genomic epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and microbiome dynamics, with a strong focus on public health and global infectious disease surveillance.

Her research interests include:

• Genomic Epidemiology of bacterial and viral pathogens
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and resistome evolution
• Metagenomics and microbiome analysis in humans, animals, and the environment
• Dietary and lifestyle impacts on microbial communities
• Zoonotic pathogen transmission and environmental reservoirs

Her recent publications highlight work on cholera outbreaks, mpox virus evolution, and the role of diet and insects in spreading antimicrobial resistance. These studies employ advanced genomic and bioinformatic tools to understand pathogen spread and adaptation.

Dr. Otani actively supervises PhD students and contributes to major research initiatives, including projects on the functional microbiome in Africa and global AMR surveillance. She collaborates widely across international teams, particularly in low-resource outbreak settings.

She is involved in public engagement, including media appearances such as coverage on using sewage for coronavirus research. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health, sanitation, and responsible consumption.