UWMUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison · Biology
O'Connor Lab
David H. O'Connor · Madison, Wisconsin
Research Focus
Dr. David H. O'Connor's lab focuses on improving public health surveillance for respiratory viruses, particularly in schools. They study the effectiveness of air sampling as a way to detect airborne viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, providing an innovative approach to monitor and manage outbreaks. By understanding virus transmission through air samples, the lab aims to develop strategies that could keep schools safer and reduce absenteeism due to illness.
SARS-CoV-2influenzaair samplingpublic healthvirus transmission
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop and implement air sampling systems in K-12 schools.
AIM 02Evaluate the effectiveness of air sampling for detecting respiratory viruses.
AIM 03Analyze viral sequences from air samples to track variants.
AIM 04Forecast community virus transmission based on air sample data.
AIM 05Establish a model for nationwide school-based surveillance programs.
Skills the Lab Values
air samplingviral sequencingdata modelingenvironmental surveillancelaboratory diagnostics
Output against the department
Publications511top 8% of dept.80th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations18ktop 22% of dept.226th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.