Dr. Kimberley Gilbride

Areas of Expertise Kim Gilbride is a molecular microbiologist who has been characterizing the microbial community of wastewater treatment systems for the last 20 years. Current research is looking at antibiotic resistance genes in water sources including the role of the wastewater treatment process in the concentration and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. In conjunction with the antibiotic resistance gene dissemination program is our broader research question research on contaminants of emerging concern (CEC). We have been examining the gap between science policy, wastewater treatment and detection and monitoring programs for CEC such as pharmaceuticals, PFAS/PFOS and microplastics. Finally, our lab has been a part of a larger wastewater surveillance program to help detect viral pathogens in wastewater including most recently SARS-Cov2 viral signal in the Toronto population. The lab uses mostly molecular microbiology methods to study the bacteria, the genes, and the processes in wastewater and water sources.