Research and Development - Senior Technical
Staff Profiles
Colin Fricker, Ph.D., ASI Technical Director
Dr. Fricker, who directs all laboratory operations at ASI, has been associated with ASI since 2002. He
has more than thirty years experience in environmental microbiology in public and private sectors. Dr.
Fricker was the Microbiology and Commercial Manager at Thames Water, Reading, UK until 1999. Since
then, Dr. Fricker founded CRF Consulting and has provided microbiological testing and consulting
services to the water, and wastewater industries internationally, particularly with regard to
Cryptosporidium. Dr. Fricker participated in the development of USEPA Method 1622 for the
detection of Cryptosporidium in water. In addition to Dr. Fricker’s extensive experience in laboratory
methods for the detection and identification of Cryptosporidium, he is an inventor of the largest selling
commercially available test for the detection of coliforms and E.coli in drinking water.
At ASI, Dr. Fricker is responsible all microbiological laboratory testing and training. In addition to his
laboratory responsibilities, Dr. Fricker also provides consulting services to ASI clients regarding all
microbiological issues associated with public water supply. Dr. Fricker has a particular interest in the
regrowth of coliform bacteria in water distribution systems, and is currently serving as Principal
Investigator for ASI’s AWWARF grant titled Significance of Current Methods and Monitoring
Strategies for E. coli and Total Coliform Measurements (AWWARF #4024). He has worked with
many utilities throughout the world on coliform issues.
David Danforth, Quality Assurance Officer
Mr. Danforth heads ASI's Quality Assurance Program, which covers all areas of laboratory operations. Mr. Danforth received his Master of Science degree in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and his Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse. Since 2009, Mr. Danforth has worked as a professional microbiologist in a commercial laboratory environment, specializing in molecular biology and bacterial genetics. Mr. Danforth joined ASI in 2011 as Quality Assurance Officer and Microbiologist.
Aaron Margolin, Ph.D., Affiliated Scientist, Virology
Dr. Margolin, Chair of the Microbiology Department at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), has
collaborated with ASI since the early 1990s. Dr. Margolin joined the UNH faculty in 1988 and has
established his laboratory as one of the premier environmental virology research laboratories in the
United States. In 1989, Dr. Margolin became the Science Advisor to the Winchester Engineering and
Analytical Center of the Food and Drug Administration in the Department of Microbiology. His
major area of expertise is the spread of human infectious organisms, particularly viruses, via fecal
contamination of water, food and medical devices. He has held many research grants from USEPA
and AWWARF. Dr. Margolin is an associate member of the Environmental Research Group at UNH,
an interdisciplinary group studying disinfection, filtration and other water treatment strategies related
to pathogens in all types of water.
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