Professor Davis’ research and teaching is focused at the interface of engineered water supply and sanitation systems and their users in developing countries. With a background in public health, infrastructure planning, and environmental science & engineering, Davis explores questions related to interventions that trigger household investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements; the features of water and sanitation services that users value and why; and the health and economic impacts of improvements in water supply and sanitation. She has conducted field research in more than a dozen countries, including most recently Kenya, Mozambique, and Bangladesh.
Chlorine Disinfection Systems For Low Income Urban Areas: Bangladesh, Stanford University
Rural Health and Development At the Food Water Nexus: Kenya, Civil Environmental Enginering Dept., Stanford University
Hands and Water as Vectors of Diarrhea! Pathogens in Bagannoyo, TanzaniaENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYMattioli, M. C., Pickering, A. J., Gilsdorf, R. J., Davis, J., Boehm, A. B.2013; 47 (1): 355-363
Mechanisms of post-supply contamination of drinking water in BagamoyoTanzania. Journal of Water & HealthHarris, A., R., Davis, J., Boehm, A., B.2013; 3 (11): 543-54
Enteric pathogens in stored drinking water and on caregiver's hands in Tanzanian households with and without reported cases of child diarrheaPLOS OneMattioli, M., Boehm, A., B., Davis, J., Harris, A., Mrisho, M., Pickering, A., J.2013; 1 (9): e84939
Does sense of ownership matter for rural water system sustainability? Evidence from KenyaJournal of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for DevelopmentMarks, S., Onda, K., Davis, J.2013; 2 (3): 122–133
Socioeconomic and environmental impacts of domestic bio-digesters: Evidence from Arusha, TanzaniaEnergy for Sustainable DevelopmentLaramee, J., Davis, J.2013
Does User Participation Lead to Sense of Ownership for Rural Water Systems? Evidence from KenyaWORLD DEVELOPMENTMarks, S. J., Davis, J.2012; 40 (8): 1569-1576
Fecal Contamination and Diarrheal Pathogens on Surfaces and in Soils among Tanzanian Households with and without Improved SanitationENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYPickering, A. J., Julian, T. R., Marks, S. J., Mattioli, M. C., Boehm, A. B., Schwab, K. J., Davis, J.2012; 46 (11): 5736-5743
Freshwater Availability and Water Fetching Distance Affect Child Health in Sub-Saharan AfricaENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYPickering, A. J., Davis, J.2012; 46 (4): 2391-2397
Freshwater availability affects child health in sub-Saharan AfricaEnvironmental Science & TechnologyPickering, A., Davis, J.2012
The role of productive water use in women's livelihoods: Evidence from rural SenegalWater AlternativesHouweling, E., van, Hall, R., Diop, A., S., Davis, J., Seiss, M.2012; 3 (5): 658-677
Water supply services for Africa's urban poor: the role of resaleJOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTHZuin, V., Ortolano, L., Alvarinho, M., Russel, K., Thebo, A., Muximpua, O., Davis, J.2011; 9 (4): 773-784
Increasing the Role of Economics in Environmental Research (or Moving beyond the Mindset That Economics = Accounting)ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYCharacklis, G. W., Adriaens, P., Braden, J. B., Davis, J., Hamilton, B., Hughes, J. B., Small, M. J., Wolfe, J.2011; 45 (15): 6235-6236
Drivers of Conflict in Developing Country Infrastructure Projects: Experience from the Water and Pipeline SectorsJOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT-ASCEBoudet, H. S., Jayasundera, D. C., Davis, J.2011; 137 (7): 498-511
The Effects of Informational Interventions on Household Water Management, Hygiene Behaviors, Stored Drinking Water Quality, and Hand Contamination in Peri-Urban TanzaniaAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENEDavis, J., Pickering, A. J., Rogers, K., Mamuya, S., Boehm, A. B.2011; 84 (2): 184-191
Efficacy of alcohol-based hand sanitizer on hands soiled with dirt and cooking oilJOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTHPickering, A. J., Davis, J., Boehm, A. B.2011; 9 (3): 429-433
Site fightsGlobal ProjectsMcAdam, D., Schaffer Boudet, H., Davis, J., Orr, Ryan, J., Scott, W., Richard, Levitt, Raymond, E.edited by Scott, W. R., Levitt, R. E., Orr, R. J.Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.2011
Water resale to neighbors in Maputo, Mozambique: costs, service quality, and user satisfactionJournal of Water and HealthZuin, V., Ortolano, L., Alvarinho, M., Russel, K., Thebo, A., Muximpua, O., Davis, J.2011; 9 (4): 773-784
Drivers of conflict in global infrastructure projects: Experience from the water and pipeline sectorsJournal of Construction Engineering and ManagemenSchaffer-Boude, H., Jayasundera, D., C., Davis, J.2011; 7 (137): 498-511
Understanding Household Behavioral Risk Factors for Diarrheal Disease in Dar es Salaam: A Photovoice Community AssessmentJournal of Environmental and Public HealthBadowski, N., Castro, C., Montgomery, M., Pickering, A., Mamuya, S., Davis, J.2011
"Site Fights": Explaining Opposition to Pipeline Projects in the Developing World1SOCIOLOGICAL FORUMMcAdam, D., Boudet, H. S., Davis, J., Orr, R. J., Scott, W. R., Levitt, R. E.2010; 25 (3): 401-427
Hands, Water, and Health: Fecal Contamination in Tanzanian Communities with Improved, Non-Networked Water SuppliesENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYPickering, A. J., Davis, J., Walters, S. P., Horak, H. M., Keymer, D. P., Mushi, D., Strickfaden, B., Chynoweth, J. S., Liu, J., Blum, A., Rogers, K., Boehm, A. B.2010; 44 (9): 3267-3272
Efficacy of Waterless Hand Hygiene Compared with Handwashing with Soap: A Field Study in Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENEPickering, A. J., Boehm, A. B., Mwanjali, M., Davis, J.2010; 82 (2): 270-278
Microbial and metal water quality in rain catchments compared with traditional drinking water sources in the East Sepik Province, Papua New GuineaJOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTHHorak, H. M., Chynoweth, J. S., Myers, W. P., Davis, J., Fendorf, S., Boehm, A. B.2010; 8 (1): 126-138
Water quality of water in rain catchments compared to other drinking water sources in the East Sepik Province, Papua New GuineaJournal of Water and HealthHorak, H., M., Chynoweth, J., S., Myers, W., P., Davis, J., A., Fendorf, S., Boehm, A., B.2010; 8: 126-138
Bacterial hand contamination among Tanzanian mothers varies temporally and following household activitiesTropical Medicine & International HealthPickering, A., Julian, T., Boehm, A., Davis, J.2010
How well is the demand-driven, community management model for rural water supply systems doing? Evidence from Bolivia, Peru and GhanaWATER POLICYWhittington, D., Davis, J., Prokopy, L., Komives, K., Thorsten, R., Lukacs, H., Bakalian, A., Wakeman, W.2009; 11 (6): 696-718
Sustaining the benefits of rural water supply investments: Experience from BoliviaPost-construction Support and Sustainability in Community-Managed Rural Water Supply: Case Studies in Peru, Bolivia, and GhanaDavis, J., Luckas, H., Jeuland, M., Soto, B., Lizarraga, G., Alvestegui, A.edited by Bakalian, A., Wakeman, W.Washington, DC: The World Bank.2009
The economic returns to water and sanitation investmentsGlobal Crises, Global Solutions: Costs and BenefitsDavis, J.edited by Lomberg, B.Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.2009
Explaining variation in opposition to pipeline projects in the developing worldEnvironmental PoliticsMcAdam, D., Schafer, H., Davis, J., Orr, R.2009; 2 (18): 307-308
Sustaining the benefits of rural water supply investments: Experience from Cochabamba and Chuquisaca, BoliviaWATER RESOURCES RESEARCHDavis, J., Lukacs, H., Jeuland, M., Alvestegui, A., Soto, B., Lizarraga, G., Bakalian, A., Wakeman, W.2008; 44 (12)
Improving access to water supply and sanitation in urban India: microfinance for water and sanitation infrastructure developmentWATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYDavis, J., White, G., Damodaron, S., Thorsten, R.2008; 58 (4): 887-891
Sustaining the benefits of rural water supply investments: Experience from BoliviaWater Resources ResearchDavis, J., Luckas, H., Jeuland, M., Soto, B., Lizarraga, G.2008; 44: W12427
Private-sector Participation in the Water and Sanitation SectorAnnual Review of Environment and ResourcesDavis, J.2005; 30: 1-39
Challenges for Water Sector Reform in Transition EconomiesWater PolicyDavis, J., Whittington, D.2004; 4 (6): 1-15
Corruption in Public Services: Experience from South Asia’s Water and Sanitation SectorWorld DevelopmentDavis, J.2003; 1 (32): 53-71
Scaling Up Slum Upgrading Efforts: Where are the Bottlenecks?International Development Planning ReviewDavis, J.2003; 3 (26): 301-319
Assessing Community Preferences for Development Initiatives: Are Willingness-to-pay Studies Robust to Mode Effects?World DevelopmentDavis, J.2002; 4 (32): 655-672
Implementing a Demand-driven Approach to Community Water Supply Planning: A Case Study of Lugazi, UgandaWater Resources and Economic Development, CheltenhamWhittington, D., Davis, J., McClelland, E.edited by Saleth, R. M.UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.2002
How Important is Improved Water Infrastructure to Microenterprises? Evidence from UgandaWorld Development Davis, J., Kang, A., Vincent, J., Whittington, D.2001; 10 (29): 1753-1767
Designing a “Neighborhood Deal” for Urban Sewers: A Case Study of Semarang, IndonesiaJournal of Planning Education and ResearchWhittington, D., Davis, J., Miarsono, H., Pollard, R.1999; 3 (19): 297-308
Implementing a Demand-driven Approach to Community Water Supply Planning: A Case Study of Lugazi, UgandaWater InternationalWhittington, D., Davis, J., McClelland, E.1999; 3 (23): 134-145
Participatory Research Techniques for Development Projects: A Comparison of the Contingent Valuation and Community Dialogue methodsEconomic Development and Cultural ChangeDavis, J., Whittington, D.1998; 1 (47): 73-81