Rachel Noble

Dr. Noble’s research program bridges environmental microbiology and marine microbial ecology. A main thread of Dr. Noble’s work is the application of rapid testing approaches for applied and basic science. She has developed a range of rapid water quality test methods, including those for E. coli, Enterococcus, and Vibrio species. She studies the movement and concentrations of microbial contaminants contributed through stormwater runoff to high use and high value recreational and shellfish harvesting waters. A specific interest is conducting research to determine whether sources of contamination are coming from natural sources or from human inputs such as the waste from sewage and septic systems. Dr. Noble is also broadly interested in the ways that bacteria (both pathogenic bacteria and naturally found bacteria) phytoplankton, and other small organisms interact and behave in estuaries and along coasts, especially those that have suffered from human development and modification.