Research Interests
Blake began working in the Servos Lab as Project Lead for the on-campus COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program and completed his graduate studies continuing this work. His research focused on identifying residence buildings where individuals shedding SARS-CoV-2 (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) were present within congregate living settings, using building-scale wastewater-based surveillance to support public health decision-making.
A key component of his work involved the development and evaluation of passive sampling approaches for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in upstream sewer environments. His research compared passive samplers with traditional composite sampling methods to assess sensitivity, reliability, and suitability for localized surveillance applications. This included method development for sample processing, nucleic acid extraction, and quantification of viral genetic targets using RT-qPCR.
His MSc research demonstrated that passive samplers could provide sensitive, near real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2 at the building scale and could be used as an early warning tool to support targeted public health responses in university residences. The work highlighted the value of tiered wastewater surveillance systems for tracking infection dynamics in congregate living environments, particularly during periods of changing viral prevalence.
Following the completion of his MSc, Blake joined Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as an Environmental Assessment Officer.
