Overview
Background
Doctor Jake O’Brien is Senior Research Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS). His main field of interest is in wastewater-based epidemiology, but he also has interest in developing analytical methods for chemicals of emerging concern within biological and environmental samples. Doctor O'Brien is a strong advocate for collaborative research having co-authored with more than 300 collaborators worldwide on over 160 publications. Jake is strongly supportive of early career researcher development and is currently the chair of the EMCR@UQ Committee. He is also a Chief Investigator of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program since its establishment in 2016.
Availability
- Dr Jake O'Brien is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Jake O'Brien’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Journal Article
Spatial variations in the consumption of illicit stimulant drugs across Australia: a nationwide application of wastewater-based epidemiology
Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake, Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Prichard, Jeremy, Kirkbride, Paul, Gartner, Coral, Thai, Phong, Carter, Steve, Burns, Lucy and Mueller, Jochen (2016). Spatial variations in the consumption of illicit stimulant drugs across Australia: a nationwide application of wastewater-based epidemiology. Science of The Total Environment, 568 (9), 810-818. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.207
2016
Journal Article
Measuring selected PPCPs in wastewater to estimate the population in different cities in China
Gao, Jianfa, O'Brien, Jake, Du, Peng, Li, Xiqing, Ort, Christoph, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2016). Measuring selected PPCPs in wastewater to estimate the population in different cities in China. Science of the Total Environment, 568, 164-170. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.216
2016
Journal Article
Comparative measurement and quantitative risk assessment of alcohol consumption through wastewater-based epidemiology: an international study in 20 cities
Ryu, Yeonsuk, Barcelo, Damià, Barron, Leon P., Bijlsma, Lubertus, Castiglioni, Sara, de Voogt, Pim, Emke, Erik, Hernandez, Félix, Lai, Foon Yin, Lopes, Alvaro, de Alda, Miren López, Mastroianni, Nicola, Munro, Kelly, O'Brien, Jake, Ort, Christoph, Plosz, Benedek G., Reid, Malcolm J., Yargeau, Viviane and Thomas, Kevin V. (2016). Comparative measurement and quantitative risk assessment of alcohol consumption through wastewater-based epidemiology: an international study in 20 cities. Science of the Total Environment, 565, 977-983. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.138
2016
Journal Article
Refining the excretion factors of methadone and codeine for wastewater analysis - combining data from pharmacokinetic and wastewater studies
Thai, Phong K., Lai, Foon Yin, Bruno, Raimondo, van Dyken, Emma, Hall, Wayne, O'Brien, Jake, Prichard, Jeremy and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Refining the excretion factors of methadone and codeine for wastewater analysis - combining data from pharmacokinetic and wastewater studies. Environment International, 94, 307-314. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.05.033
2016
Journal Article
Cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine residues in wastewater: consumption trends (2009-2015) in South East Queensland, Australia
Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake W., Thai, Phong K., Hall, Wayne, Chan, Gary, Bruno, Raimondo, Ort, Christoph, Prichard, Jeremy, Carter, Steve, Anuj, Shalona, Kirkbride, K. Paul, Gartner, Coral, Humphries, Melissa and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine residues in wastewater: consumption trends (2009-2015) in South East Queensland, Australia. Science of The Total Environment, 568, 803-809. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.181
2016
Journal Article
Evaluation of monitoring schemes for wastewater-based epidemiology to identify drug use trends using cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and methadone
Humphries, Melissa A., Bruno, Raimondo, Lai, Foon Yin, Thai, Phong K., Holland, Barbara R., O'Brien, Jake W., Ort, Christoph and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Evaluation of monitoring schemes for wastewater-based epidemiology to identify drug use trends using cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and methadone. Environmental Science and Technology, 50 (9), 4760-4768. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06126
2016
Journal Article
Trends in methamphetamine residues in wastewater in metropolitan and regional cities in south-east Queensland, 2009-2015
Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake, Thai, Phong K., Hall, Wayne D. and Mueller, Jochen (2016). Trends in methamphetamine residues in wastewater in metropolitan and regional cities in south-east Queensland, 2009-2015. Medical Journal of Australia, 204 (4), 151-152e. doi: 10.5694/mja15.01054
2016
Journal Article
Monitoring temporal changes in use of two cathinones in a large urban catchment in Queensland, Australia
Thai, Phong K., Lai, Foon Yin, Edirisinghe, Mehtsiri, Hall, Wayne, Bruno, Raimondo, O'Brien, Jake W., Prichard, Jeremy, Kirkbride, K. Paul and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Monitoring temporal changes in use of two cathinones in a large urban catchment in Queensland, Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 545-546, 250-255. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.038
2016
Conference Publication
Alcohol, nicotine and illicit drug testing in wastewater in Victoria
Killian, Jessica, Lloyd, Belinda, Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake W. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Alcohol, nicotine and illicit drug testing in wastewater in Victoria. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2016, Sydney, Australia, 30 October – 2 November 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dar.12484
2016
Conference Publication
A modelling approach to estimate the number of people contributing to a wastewater sample using population biomarkers
O'Brien, Jake, Thai, Phong, Ort, Christoph, Thomas, Kevin, Reid, Malcolm, Baz Lomba, José Antonio, Lai, Foon Yin and Mueller, Jochen (2016). A modelling approach to estimate the number of people contributing to a wastewater sample using population biomarkers. 2016 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Sicence, Utrecht, Netherlands, 9 - 13 October 2016. Herndon, VA, United States: International Society of Exposure Science.
2015
Journal Article
Wastewater analysis of Census day samples to investigate per capita input of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers into wastewater
O'Brien, Jake W., Thai, Phong K., Brandsma, Sicco H., Leonards, Pim E. G., Ort, Christoph and Mueller, Jochen F. (2015). Wastewater analysis of Census day samples to investigate per capita input of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers into wastewater. Chemosphere, 138, 328-334. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.06.014
2015
Journal Article
A miniature bioassay for testing the acute phytotoxicity of photosystem II herbicides on seagrass
Wilkinson, Adam D., Collier, Catherine J., Flores, Florita, Mercurio, Phil, O'Brien, Jake, Ralph, Peter J. and Negri, Andrew P. (2015). A miniature bioassay for testing the acute phytotoxicity of photosystem II herbicides on seagrass. PLoS One, 10 (2) e0117541, e0117541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117541
2015
Journal Article
Systematic and day-to-day effects of chemical-derived population estimates on wastewater-based drug epidemiology
Lai, Foon Yin, Anuj, Shalona, Bruno, Raimondo, Carter, Steve, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne, Kirkbride, K. Paul, Mueller, Jochen F., O'Brien, Jake W., Prichard, Jeremy, Thai, Phong K and Ort, Christoph (2015). Systematic and day-to-day effects of chemical-derived population estimates on wastewater-based drug epidemiology. Environmental Science and Technology, 49 (2), 999-1008. doi: 10.1021/es503474d
2015
Conference Publication
Reading wastewater downunder
Mueller, J. F., Lai, F. Y., Thai, P., O'Brien, J., Ort, C., Gartner, C., Prichard, J., Bruno, R., van Dyken, E., Humphries, M., Carter, S., Wilkins, P., Kirkbride, W. and Hall, W. (2015). Reading wastewater downunder. Testing the Waters, Ascona, Switzerland, 11-15 October 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Application of wastewater-based epidemiology on monitoring illicit drug, alcohol and nicotine use in Australian and New Zealand populations
Lai, F. Y., Hall, W., Wilkins, C., Gartner, C., Carter, S., Anuj, S., O'Brien, J. W., Thai, P., Bruno, R., Prichard, J., Kirkbride, P. and Mueller, J. F. (2015). Application of wastewater-based epidemiology on monitoring illicit drug, alcohol and nicotine use in Australian and New Zealand populations. Testing the Waters, Ascona, Switzerland, 11-15 October 2015.
2015
Journal Article
Could wastewater analysis be a useful tool for China? - A review
Gao, Jianfa, O'Brien, Jake, Lai, Foon Yin, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., He, Jun, Mueller, Jochen F., Xu, Jingsha and Thai, Phong K. (2015). Could wastewater analysis be a useful tool for China? - A review. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 27 (C), 70-79. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2014.09.025
2015
Conference Publication
Long-term monitoring of cathinone use using wastewater analysis in an urban catchment in South East Queensland
Thai, Phong K., Lai, Foonyin, O'Brien, Jake W., Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Edirisinghe, Methsiri, Kirkbride, Paul, Prichard, Jeremy and Mueller, Jochen (2015). Long-term monitoring of cathinone use using wastewater analysis in an urban catchment in South East Queensland. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2014
Journal Article
Degradability of creatinine under sewer conditions affects its potential to be used as biomarker in sewage epidemiology
Thai, Phong K., O'Brien, Jake, Jiang, Guangming, Gernjak, Wolfgang, Yuan, Zhiguo, Eaglesham, Geoff and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Degradability of creatinine under sewer conditions affects its potential to be used as biomarker in sewage epidemiology. Water Research, 55, 272-279. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.02.035
2014
Journal Article
A model to estimate the population contributing to the wastewater using samples collected on census day
O'Brien, Jake W., Thai, Phong K., Eaglesham, Geoff, Ort, Christoph, Scheidegger, Andreas, Carter, Steve, Lai, Foon Yin and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). A model to estimate the population contributing to the wastewater using samples collected on census day. Environmental Science and Technology, 48 (1), 517-525. doi: 10.1021/es403251g
2014
Journal Article
Commentary on Ort etal. (2014): What next to deliver on the promise of large scale sewage-based drug epidemiology?
Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Kirkbride, K. Paul, Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake W., Prichard, Jeremy, Thai, Phong K. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Commentary on Ort etal. (2014): What next to deliver on the promise of large scale sewage-based drug epidemiology?. Addiction, 109 (8), 1353-1354. doi: 10.1111/add.12651
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jake O'Brien is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing the framework for a national wastewater antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use surveillance method
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the inflammatory response of human cells to silica dust exposure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
Doctor Philosophy
The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Non-Targeted High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Highly Mobile and Highly Persistent Chemicals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Qiuda Zheng, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation and Quantification of Nanoplastics in the Environment Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding use and fate of ingredients in consumer products
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Bade
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Specialised Hyphenated Methodologies for Quantifying New Halogenated Plastic Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassandra Rauert
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastics in the air: Working towards understanding micro plastics in the atmospheric environment, the plastic exposome and human respiratory exposure
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Dr Cassandra Rauert, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotics and other chemicals that select for antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Advancing the non-target identification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in environmental samples
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Wood, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating use of nicotine containing products and evaluating tobacco-related health risks through wastewater analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Ben Tscharke, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the suitability of wastewater analysis for the detection and monitoring of performance- and image-enhancing drug use
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Tscharke, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of plastic contamination in marine organisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of alcohol and tobacco consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Ben Tscharke, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of analgesic consumption and the burden of treated pain in Australia using wastewater-based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Tscharke, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of plastic residues in Australian biosolids
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Tscharke, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing sources, fate, and the potential risk of UV filters in the aquatic environment
Associate Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Population diet and stress estimates using wastewater based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Expanding wastewater-based epidemiology and evaluating the stability of biomarkers in the sewers: from the laboratory to the field
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Phong Thai
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Jake O'Brien directly for media enquiries about:
- Illicit drug monitoring in wastewater
- national wastewater drug monitoring program
- wastewater
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