Featured Post from University of Delaware

COVID-19 cases on the rise in the U.S., Japan and the Dominican Republic. Are we on the cusp of another phase of the pandemic?

Jul 25, 2023

1 min

With tourism, concerts and other forms of recreation experiencing blockbuster summers, it seems almost hard to believe that we were wearing masks, quarantining and dealing with other COVID-19 restrictions as recently as a year ago.

But according to Jennifer Horney, professor and founding director of the University of Delaware's epidemiology program, the virus is far from gone, with waves hitting Japan and the Dominican Republic and a rise in cases in the southern part of the United States.

In addition to providing expert analysis for national media on the pandemic, Horney focuses on the impacts of natural disasters on public health, as well as linkages between disaster planning and the actions communities and individuals take to prepare, respond and recover.

A core faculty member with UD's Disaster Research Center, Horney has trained rapid response teams around the world to respond to outbreaks of novel and reemerging diseases, such as Influenza A H1N1.

She recently published "The COVID-19 Response: The Vital Role of the Public Health Professional," which emphasizes the critical roles that the public health workforce played on the frontlines of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Jennifer Horney

Professor and Director, Epidemiology

Jennifer Horney's research focuses on the health impacts of disasters and public health emergencies including climate change.

EpidemiologyepidemicCOVID-19Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency ResponseRapid Assessment

Find Experts

Aug 10, 2026

1 min

Experts on earthquake response, community recovery and building safety

The shaking from a major earthquake may be over in minutes, but its consequences will last for years. University of Delaware experts can address emergency response, distributing aid, assessing damaged buildings, helping vulnerable communities and planning for long-term recovery. Their expertise is particularly relevant as communities across Latin America respond to major earthquakes, including the deadly magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia. Tricia Wachtendorf, co-director of UD’s Disaster Research Center, offers expertise on how governments, nonprofits, emergency responders and community groups coordinate following a major disaster. Her research examines the role of spontaneous or “emergent” groups, humanitarian aid and donations, and how communities and organizations respond in the aftermath of disasters. Jennifer Trivedi, associate professor of anthropology and Disaster Research Center faculty member, specializes in disaster vulnerability and why some communities are more severely affected than others. She also addresses the long-term recovery needs and planning that emerge after the immediate crisis. Michael Chajes, professor of civil and environmental engineering, provides expertise on the structural damage caused by earthquakes, why some buildings collapse while others withstand the shaking and how engineers assess damaged structures and improve earthquake resilience. To arrange an interview with one of these experts, visit their profiles and click on the contact button. Interested reporters can also email MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Aug 5, 2026

1 min

Mapping the ancient world with underwater robotics

As audiences flock to theaters for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, University of Delaware professor Art Trembanis is leading a real-life expedition to uncover one of ancient Greece's most important maritime landscapes. Trembanis, a professor in UD's School of Marine Science and Policy and an expert in seafloor mapping, marine robotics and underwater sensing technologies, recently led a team of students and researchers to the ancient harbor of Kenchreai, where they deployed autonomous underwater vehicles, advanced sonar systems and other cutting-edge mapping technologies to document a harbor that has remained hidden beneath the Mediterranean Sea for centuries. The expedition collected geospatial data that will allow researchers to reconstruct the ancient port in remarkable detail and ultimately create a "digital twin" of the site. The virtual model will enable archaeologists, engineers, students and the public to explore the harbor as if the water had been removed, preserving an invaluable piece of cultural heritage while advancing the use of marine technology in archaeology. Trembanis can discuss: Marine robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles Seafloor mapping and underwater imaging technologies The use of digital twins and 3D modeling to study underwater environments Advances in marine geospatial technology and ocean exploration Underwater archaeology and documenting submerged cultural heritage How engineering and marine science are transforming the study of oceans and ancient landscapes The role of emerging technologies in scientific discovery and education To arrange an interview with Trembanis, click on his profile or email mediarelations@udel.edu.

Jul 28, 2026

1 min

How Wildfires Impact Vulnerable Communities, Pets and Public Health Systems

Wildfires burning across the world, now in parts of France and Spain, are forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate. University of Delaware experts are available to discuss wildfire evacuations, vulnerable communities, animal rescue and the health effects of wildfire smoke exposure. Those experts, from UD’s Disaster Research Center, include: Sarah DeYoung Professor of sociology and criminal justice: • How people are forced to make split-second decisions involving horses, livestock and companion animals during fast-moving wildfires. • Why some owners must turn animals loose when evacuation time is limited. • Lessons from past disasters and animal rescue research. Jennifer Trivedi Assistant professor of anthropology: • The unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations during wildfires. • Complications surrounding evacuation decision-making and evacuation needs. • Long-term recovery following catastrophic disasters. Jennifer Horney Chair of UD’s Department of Epidemiology: • Health risks associated with wildfire smoke exposure, including respiratory infections. • How wildfire smoke and airborne pollutants affect population health. • The strain major wildfires can place on public health and health care systems. To arrange an interview with these experts, visit their profile page and click on the "contact" button. Interested journalists can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.