Handwashing Works
Sanitation Evaluator

Heather M. Murphy, Ph.D., P.Eng

Heather M. Murphy, Ph.D., P.Eng
"I am excited about the project because it allows me to use my knowledge and skills that I developed working with UNICEF and apply it locally at home in evaluating the program in the schools of Philadelphia. It is particularly interesting to me personally because I also have kids that are 3 and 5 and I am always keen to improve their hand washing behaviors."

Heather M. Murphy, Ph.D., P.Eng
Handwashing Works Sanitation Evaluator
Assistant Professor
College of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health, Temple University

About: Dr. Murphy has over ten years of experience in water/wastewater treatment, water quality, drinking water distribution, risk assessment and environmental health in both North America and abroad. Dr. Murphy obtained her PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Guelph, Canada, where she focused on appropriate household water treatment technologies in rural Cambodia. Following her PhD, she worked for the United Nations International Emergency Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist in Mali and Madagascar. She recently completed a research fellowship with the Public Health Agency of Canada where she focused on quantifying the burden of waterborne disease on the Canadian population. Dr. Murphy’s research interests involve understanding and addressing water and health challenges in both developed and developing countries.

Fun Fact: “While in Mali, she coordinated a $25 million dollar Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools program, covering 1000 schools, the largest program of its kind in the world.”

Role in this project: Dr. Murphy will be evaluating the sanitization effects on the students to determine if the handwashing program is effective in preventing illness.

Best known for: The sanitation expert

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