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Leslie Dietz is a Faculty Research Assistant currently leading assay development and implementation for wastewater-based pathogen surveillance at ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ State University. With over two decades of experience in microbiology, molecular biology, and field-based research, Leslie provides oversight for sampling site design and data workflows, guiding collection teams and collaborating with healthcare facilities, universities, and students. She leverages digital PCR technologies for data generation, analysis, and reporting to partners including the ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Health Authority (OHA).

Her career highlights include contributing to the invention of the AerosolSense™ Air Sampler as part of ThermoFisher Scientific’s COVID-19 response team, and 17 years of ongoing service as a wildland firefighter, which shapes her leadership, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

She is dedicated to scientific rigor, collaborative work, and unwavering inclusion.