OHMD Lab People

Kathryn Dalton, Principal Investigator

Dr. Dalton, PhD VMD MPH, runs the OHMD lab. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Occupational and Environmental Health Department at the UIowa College of Public Health. Her research sits at the intersection of environmental epidemiology and microbial ecology, and broadly centers on the concept of the One Health Microbiome. Principally, she studies the shared microbiota between animals, humans, and the environment, and how exposures and interactions between these groups can lead to changes in the normal microbiome of each, as well as the subsequent health outcomes that result from these interactions and microbial alterations. This is accomplish this through advanced epidemiological and mixed methods techniques. Another key aspect of her research involves multi-stakeholder engagement and contributions from individuals across different disciplines. This, in turn, leads to research projects that tackle complex public health issues from multiple angles by integrating multiple forms of research methodologies and approaches.

Additionally, mentorship and teaching are a critical part of her research process, and she works to bring her research into the classroom to engage students in what microbiology and public health research looks like in practice. Her diverse research projects allow ample opportunity for trainees at various educational levels to conduct independent projects.

Email: kathryn-dalton@uiowa.edu

Office: CPH Building S329

Faculty Webpage Google Scholar NCBI Bibliography

CV NIH Biosketch

Benita Amos

Hello! I'm Benita Amos, a Graduate Student in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health. As a veterinary doctor with an undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medicine, I've developed a strong passion for veterinary public health, with a particular interest in One Health.

My research interest focuses on the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health, with an emphasis on zoonosis and wildlife epidemiology. I'm excited to explore the complex relationships between these domains and contribute to the advancement of One Health research.

Outside of academia, I enjoy staying active through working out and dancing. I'm also a foodie at heart and love experimenting with new recipes. Traveling and exploring nature are other hobbies of mine, and I'm always looking forward to my next adventure. As an animal lover, I appreciate the importance of preserving the health and well-being of our furry friends and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Deaven Denis

My name is Deaven Denis (she/her) and I’m a second-year Master of Public Health student in the Department of Epidemiology. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience in May 2022. I serve as President of the College of Public Health Graduate Student Association and work as a Lab Research Assistant in the Dalton Lab in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health. In my free time, I enjoy biking, hiking, and supporting local farmers at the Iowa City Farmers Market.

Angela Horvath

Angela is a PhD student at the University of Iowa in Occupational and Environmental Health, where she focuses on mixed method research to prevent vector born disease in rural communities. With a strong foundation in public health, Angela’s interdisciplinary background spans anthropology, public policy, and international development.

After earning her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of Arizona, Angela served in Peace Corps Mauritania and Guatemala, where she developed a passion for agroforestry. She later pursued a Master of Arts from Ben Gurion University, documenting the transition from subsistence to cash crop farming in rural Mali. Seeing that illness was a major barrier to poverty alleviation in rural areas, she then earned a Master of Science in International Health from Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany. Her qualitative research there focused on tuberculosis prevention for Tibetan refugee camps in Nepal. Opportunity then led her to combat West Nile Virus in southern Arizona, HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, and chronic disease in rural and tribal northern Arizona. Her diverse career includes roles such as health policy analyst for county government, director of a nonprofit for positive youth development, grant administrator for the Ryan White Part B program, and proposal writer for a safety-net healthcare system.

A passionate advocate for mitigating climate-sensitive infectious disease, she firmly embraces system change as a path to health equity. Angela met her life partner Jeremiah playing the 5-string electric viola in his Blues band, Jeremiah and the Red Eyes.

Emma Huntley

Emma Huntley is from Lexington, Kentucky, and completed an undergraduate degree in Environmental Health Science at Eastern Kentucky University in 2025. During an internship with the Indian Health Service in New Mexico, she was introduced to the field of Industrial Hygiene, which has since become the focus of her career path. Emma is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial Hygiene here at the University of Iowa and is excited to see where the future leads. Outside of academics, Emma enjoys playing the piano, hiking, and participating in a variety of sports. A lover of the outdoors and an avid coffee enthusiast, she can often be found exploring new trails or visiting local coffee shops.

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One Health Microbial Dynamics Lab