Karyn Ewurama Quansah
About me
I'm an Assistant Research Scientist at the CSIR–Water Research Institute, specialising in drinking water quality, microbial contamination, and antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments. My work focuses on identifying and monitoring bacterial pathogens in Ghana’s water systems, with a particular interest in the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms. I have contributed to national and international research projects aimed at improving water treatment strategies, strengthening antimicrobial (AMR) surveillance in freshwater, wastewater and aquaculture systems, and protecting public health. I am passionate about science communication, youth education, and translating research findings into practical solutions that benefit communities.
Karyn Ewurama Quansah is an Assistant Research Scientist at the CSIR–Water Research Institute, Ghana. Her research focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in drinking water, wastewater, and aquaculture systems, as well as broader themes of water quality, molecular biology, and climate change and health interactions. She holds a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Cape Coast and an MPhil in Climate Change and Sustainable Development (water focus) from the University of Ghana.
Her most recent research (PI) was a one-year cross-sectional study that evaluated microbial contamination and antibiotic resistance in drinking water samples from 12 out of 16 regions in Ghana. Her scientific outputs include peer-reviewed publications on climate variability and household water management, spatial modelling for aquaculture siting, AMR surveillance in drinking water systems, and food safety interventions using locally available disinfectants. In addition, she has authored a policy brief advocating for enhanced national surveillance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Ghana’s water supply.
A SORT-IT (Structured Operational Research Training Initiative) alumna, Karyn is keen on science communication and mentoring the next generation (especially females) in science. She trains interns and national service personnel in microbiology practices and is a member of the CSIR Research Scientists Association, and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (IESS). Her future research direction focuses on carbapenemase resistance, genomic analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in water systems, and low cost, green technologies and hybrid technologies for AMR mitigation in water systems, climate change impacts on AMR and is keen to build collaborations in those areas.