What we do

Environmental health research seeks to elucidate how exposures to physical, chemical, biological hazards in air, water, soil, and food impact human health. In the Ryberg Research Group, found within the Department of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut, we investigate these complex interactions with the goal of advancing both environmental quality and public health outcomes. We achieve this through a wet-lab focused approach, applying unique perspectives from environmental chemistry and engineering to solve environmental problems.

Our research emphasizes advancing the fundamental knowledge and the development of innovative technologies to improve the safety, accessibility, and sustainability of drinking water in Connecticut and around the world. A central theme of our work is the use of solar-driven processes to degrade chemical contaminants and inactivate microbial pathogens. By leveraging the abundant resource of sunlight, we aim to create low-cost, scalable treatment strategies that are adaptable to diverse environmental and infrastructural contexts — from decentralized systems in underserved communities to next-generation water treatment methodologies. Please refer to our Research page for additional information about current projects.