Dr Jake O'Brien
Dr

Jake O'Brien

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32448

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 150 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

Analytical chemistry Chemical Sciences Disease surveillance Environmental Sciences Epidemiology Health Sciences Pollution and contamination Pollution and contamination not elsewhere classified Social epidemiology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Jake O'Brien’s works on UQ eSpace

213 works between 2011 and 2025
All (213) Journal Article (162) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (38) Book (1) Other Outputs (9)

61 - 80 of 213 works

2022

Journal Article

Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl substances in an Australian wastewater treatment plant: a ten-year retrospective investigation

Gallen, C., Bignert, A., Taucare, G., O'Brien, J., Braeunig, J., Reeks, T., Thompson, J. and Mueller, J.F. (2022). Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl substances in an Australian wastewater treatment plant: a ten-year retrospective investigation. Science of the Total Environment, 804 150211, 150211. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150211

Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl substances in an Australian wastewater treatment plant: a ten-year retrospective investigation

2022

Journal Article

A wastewater‐based assessment of the impact of a minimum unit price on population alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, Australia

O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Bade, Richard, Chan, Gary, Gerber, Cobus, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Hall, Wayne D. (2022). A wastewater‐based assessment of the impact of a minimum unit price on population alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, Australia. Addiction, 117 (1), 243-249. doi: 10.1111/add.15631

A wastewater‐based assessment of the impact of a minimum unit price on population alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, Australia

2022

Journal Article

Removal of 293 organic compounds in 15 WWTPs studied with non-targeted suspect screening

McLachlan, Michael S., Li, Zhe, Jonsson, Lisa, Kaserzon, Sarit, O'Brien, Jake W. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2022). Removal of 293 organic compounds in 15 WWTPs studied with non-targeted suspect screening. Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology, 8 (7), 1423-1433. doi: 10.1039/d2ew00088a

Removal of 293 organic compounds in 15 WWTPs studied with non-targeted suspect screening

2022

Journal Article

Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content

Rauert, Cassandra, Pan, Yufei, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content. Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment, 1 (2) 13, 13. doi: 10.20517/jeea.2022.04

Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content

2021

Journal Article

The impact of COVID-19 on antidepressant sales and prescription dispensing in Australia

Tscharke, Ben J., Hollingworth, Samantha, van Driel, Mieke L., O’Brien, Jake W. and Thai, Phong K. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on antidepressant sales and prescription dispensing in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56 (7), 000486742110683-872. doi: 10.1177/00048674211068396

The impact of COVID-19 on antidepressant sales and prescription dispensing in Australia

2021

Journal Article

Molecular methods for pathogenic bacteria detection and recent advances in wastewater analysis

Zhang, Shuxin, Li, Xuan, Wu, Jiangping, Coin, Lachlan, O’Brien, Jake, Hai, Faisal and Jiang, Guangming (2021). Molecular methods for pathogenic bacteria detection and recent advances in wastewater analysis. Water, 13 (24) 3551, 3551. doi: 10.3390/w13243551

Molecular methods for pathogenic bacteria detection and recent advances in wastewater analysis

2021

Journal Article

From centroided to profile mode: machine learning for prediction of peak width in HRMS data

Samanipour, Saer, Choi, Phil, O’Brien, Jake W., Pirok, Bob W. J., Reid, Malcolm J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). From centroided to profile mode: machine learning for prediction of peak width in HRMS data. Analytical Chemistry, 93 (49), 16562-16570. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c03755

From centroided to profile mode: machine learning for prediction of peak width in HRMS data

2021

Conference Publication

Using Triangulated Survey and Wastewater Data to Understand Patterns of Illicit Drug Use among Australian Music Festival Attendees

Puljevic, Cheneal, Wessel, Ellen, Barratt, Monica, Ferris, Jason, Tscharke, Ben J. , Verhagen, Rory, Bade, Richard, O'Brien, Jake and Mueller, Jochen (2021). Using Triangulated Survey and Wastewater Data to Understand Patterns of Illicit Drug Use among Australian Music Festival Attendees. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 7-10 November 2021. Australia: Wiley. doi: 10.1111/dar.13384

Using Triangulated Survey and Wastewater Data to Understand Patterns of Illicit Drug Use among Australian Music Festival Attendees

2021

Journal Article

Performance- and image-enhancing drug use in the community: use prevalence, user demographics and the potential role of wastewater-based epidemiology

Shimko, Katja M., Piatkowski, Timothy, Thomas, Kevin V., Speers, Naomi, Brooker, Lance, Tscharke, Ben J. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2021). Performance- and image-enhancing drug use in the community: use prevalence, user demographics and the potential role of wastewater-based epidemiology. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 419 126340, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126340

Performance- and image-enhancing drug use in the community: use prevalence, user demographics and the potential role of wastewater-based epidemiology

2021

Journal Article

Current and future perspectives for wastewater-based epidemiology as a monitoring tool for pharmaceutical use

Boogaerts, Tim, Ahmed, Fahad, Choi, Phil.M, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, De Loof, Hans, Gao, Jianfa, Thai, Phong, Thomas, Kevin, Mueller, Jochen F., Hall, Wayne, Covaci, Adrian and van Nuijs, Alexander L.N. (2021). Current and future perspectives for wastewater-based epidemiology as a monitoring tool for pharmaceutical use. Science of the Total Environment, 789 148047, 148047. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148047

Current and future perspectives for wastewater-based epidemiology as a monitoring tool for pharmaceutical use

2021

Journal Article

In-sewer stability of selected analgesics and their metabolites

Ahmed, Fahad, Li, Jiaying, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Samanipour, Saer, Thai, Phong K., Yuan, Zhiguo, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). In-sewer stability of selected analgesics and their metabolites. Water Research, 204 117647, 117647. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117647

In-sewer stability of selected analgesics and their metabolites

2021

Journal Article

Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust

O’Brien, Stacey, Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Rauert, Cassandra, O’Brien, Jake W., Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Wang, Xianyu and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416 125811, 125811. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125811

Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust

2021

Journal Article

Impact of COVID-19 controls on the use of illicit drugs and alcohol in Australia

Bade, Richard, Tscharke, Benjamin J., O’Brien, Jake W., Magsarjav, Saranzaya, Humphries, Melissa, Ghetia, Maulik, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F., White, Jason M. and Gerber, Cobus (2021). Impact of COVID-19 controls on the use of illicit drugs and alcohol in Australia. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 8 (9), 799-804. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00532

Impact of COVID-19 controls on the use of illicit drugs and alcohol in Australia

2021

Conference Publication

A global emerging contaminant early warning exercise through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry

Dewapriya, Pradeep, Jeon, Youngjoon, Feraud, Mathieu, O'Brien, Jake, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit and Thomas, Kevin (2021). A global emerging contaminant early warning exercise through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Australasia Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 3 August-2 September 2021.

A global emerging contaminant early warning exercise through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry

2021

Journal Article

Plastics contamination of store-bought rice

Dessì, Claudia, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W., Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Rauert, Cassandra, Wang, Xianyu and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Plastics contamination of store-bought rice. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416 125778, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125778

Plastics contamination of store-bought rice

2021

Journal Article

Plastics contamination in archived biosolids from 1950 to 2016

Okoffo, Elvis D., Donner, Erica, McGrath, Steve P., Tscharke, Benjamin J., O'Brien, Jake W., O'Brien, Stacey, Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Rauert, Cassandra, Samanipour, Saer, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Plastics contamination in archived biosolids from 1950 to 2016. Water Research, 201 117367, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117367

Plastics contamination in archived biosolids from 1950 to 2016

2021

Journal Article

Artificial sweeteners in end-use biosolids in Australia

Li, Dandan, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Okoffo, Elvis D., Mueller, Jochen F., Sun, Hongwen and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Artificial sweeteners in end-use biosolids in Australia. Water Research, 200 117237, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117237

Artificial sweeteners in end-use biosolids in Australia

2021

Journal Article

A method and its application to determine the amount of cannabinoids in sewage sludge and biosolids

Pandopulos, Aaron J., Simpson, Bradley S., Bade, Richard, O’Brien, Jake W., Yadav, Meena K., White, Jason M. and Gerber, Cobus (2021). A method and its application to determine the amount of cannabinoids in sewage sludge and biosolids. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28 (42), 59652-59664. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-14921-3

A method and its application to determine the amount of cannabinoids in sewage sludge and biosolids

2021

Journal Article

Quantification of selected analgesics and their metabolites in influent wastewater by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Ahmed, Fahad, Tscharke, Benjamin, O’Brien, Jake W., Thompson, Jack, Zheng, Qiuda, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Quantification of selected analgesics and their metabolites in influent wastewater by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Talanta, 234 122627, 122627. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122627

Quantification of selected analgesics and their metabolites in influent wastewater by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

2021

Journal Article

Systematic evaluation of the in-sample stability of selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites in wastewater

Lin, Xialu, Choi, Phil M., Thompson, Jack, Reeks, Timothy, Verhagen, Rory, Tscharke, Benjamin J., O’Malley, Elissa, Shimko, Katja M., Guo, Xiong, Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2021). Systematic evaluation of the in-sample stability of selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites in wastewater. Environmental Science and Technology, 55 (11) acs.est.1c00396, 7418-7429. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00396

Systematic evaluation of the in-sample stability of selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites in wastewater

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2026
    MOBSTER: Integrating antimicrobial resistance gene mobility analysis into surveillance to estimate risks
    Universities Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
    Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    ARC Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies (ARC ITRP administered by the University of Tasmania)
    University of Tasmania
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    A National Wastewater Surveillance Program for Antimicrobial Resistance
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Understanding Australia by analysing wastewater during the Census 2021
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Realistic assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Assessing the toxicity and metabolism of New Psychoactive Substances and their presence in wastewater
    Universities Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Preliminary investigations relating to the role of cyanobacterial blooms in the amplification and dispersal of antimicrobial resistance
    Melbourne Water Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Estimating use of tobacco and nicotine products through wastewater analysis
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
    Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Revolutionizing real-time genomic epidemiology in urban wastewater systems (ARC Discovery Project administered by the University of Wollongong)
    University of Wollongong
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Measuring community oxidative stress and tobacco consumption levels through wastewater analysis
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    National Wastewater Analysis Capability Project
    Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
    Open grant
  • 2013
    UWA/UQ joint project on sewer epidemiology
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Jake O'Brien is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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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