Syed A. Sattar
As a Microbiologist with Risk Sciences International, Dr. Sattar contributes his deep expertise in pathogen ecology, environmental microbiology, and infection control technologies to support RSI’s work in health risk assessment and risk mitigation. His insights guide RSI’s contributions to evidence-based disinfection strategies, microbial exposure modelling, and policy-relevant evaluations of infectious disease risk across water, air, food, and surface-contact pathways.
His work strengthens RSI’s capacity to evaluate and design interventions that minimize microbial hazards in built environments, institutional settings, and public infrastructure, particularly in the context of emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
Pre-RSI
Dr. Syed A. Sattar is an internationally renowned microbiologist with nearly five decades of research experience spanning all major classes of microbial pathogens. His work has fundamentally advanced the understanding of how environmental factors influence the survival, persistence, and transmission of infectious agents across diverse pathways—including water, food, air, waste streams, and surfaces (both animate and inanimate).
A central thread throughout his career has been the development and evaluation of safe, effective, and sustainable interventions to interrupt the spread of disease in healthcare, community, and industrial settings. He has collaborated extensively with public health agencies, regulators, and the private sector, contributing to global efforts in infection prevention and control.
Dr. Sattar has secured significant funding for his research from both peer-reviewed scientific granting agencies and contract-based applied research programs. His expertise is regularly sought by national and international health authorities, and he has served as an advisor to various scientific, governmental, and commercial entities.
His publication record includes over 200 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, and he has delivered more than 350 invited lectures in over 30 countries. He is also the author of three books, including the authoritative reference text, Principles and Practice of Disinfection, Preservation & Sterilization (5th Edition, Wiley-Interscience, 2013).
Outside RSI
Dr. Sattar is Professor Emeritus of Microbiology at the University of Ottawa, where he taught and conducted research for several decades. His academic legacy includes mentorship of numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who now hold influential positions worldwide.
He is the recipient of several prestigious honors, including the M.S. Favero Lectureship from the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ottawa Centre for Research & Innovation (OCRI), and the Hygieia Gold Medal from the Rudolf Schulke Foundation in Hamburg—one of the highest international accolades in hygiene science.
Dr. Sattar continues to be a frequent keynote speaker and consultant on microbial safety and environmental hygiene, contributing to global dialogues on pandemic preparedness, disinfection technologies, and sustainable pathogen control strategies.
