Current Research and Scholarly Interests
Professor Davis’ research and teaching deals broadly with the roles that water plays in advancing public health and economic development, with particular emphasis on low- and middle-income countries. With a background in public health, infrastructure planning, and environmental science & engineering, Davis works at the interface of engineered infrastructure systems and their users. Her group conducts applied research that utilizes theory and analytical methods from public and environmental health, engineering, microeconomics, and planning. Research efforts include the development and testing of strategies to stimulate investment in, and enhance long-term sustainability of, water, sanitation, and hygiene from the household to the global level. The group has also worked on developing technologies that address persistent gaps in service to vulnerable populations. A third area of research focuses on quantifying the health and economic impacts of service improvements, and the conditions under which such benefits are maximized. Davis has conducted field research in more than 20 countries, most recently including Zambia, Bangladesh, and Kenya.
