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Food Safety and Food Microbiology

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Our faculty working in food safety and microbiology explore the interactions between microbial communities, food, and food consumers with the goal of improving the safety, health, and quality of the local and global food supply. This field encompasses the study of spoilage microorganisms, foodborne pathogens, and beneficial microbes at every link in the supply chain, from farm to table. Our research includes everything from produce safety at harvest to food pathogen epidemiology to shelf life stability.

Disciplines

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Microbiology

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Food Safety and Preservation

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Extension

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Epidemiology

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Health and Nutrition

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Food Chemistry

Faculty

  • Bio Item
    Alexis Hamilton
    Alexis M. Hamilton , bio

    Assistant Professor: Food Processing Microbiology

  • Bio Item
    Daniel Weller
    Daniel Weller , bio

    Adjunct Research Professor: Food Safety and Foodborne Illness

  • Bio Item
    Dr. Joseph D. Eifert
    Joseph Eifert , bio

    Professor and Graduate Program Director: Food Safety, Poultry Processing, HACCP and Risk Assessment, Food Laws and Regulations, Food Safety Education

  • Bio Item
    Katheryn Parraga
    Katheryn Parraga-Estrada , bio

    Extension Specialist – Muscle Food Safety, Seafood Safety, Extension, Food Safety Education

  • Bio Item
    Kim Waterman
    Kim Waterman , bio

    Laboratory Manager

  • Bio Item
    Laura Strawn
    Laura K. Strawn , bio

    Associate Professor: Food Microbiology, Produce Safety

  • Bio Item
    Lester Schonberger
    Lester Schonberger , bio

    Associate Extension Specialist: Food Safety Education, Food Donation

  • Bio Item
    Melissa Wright
    Melissa Wright , bio

    Director, Food Producer Technical Assistance Network

  • Bio Item
    Monica Ponder
    Monica Ponder , bio

    Professor: Microbiology

  • Bio Item
    Rachel Alessandra Cheng
    Rachel Cheng , bio

    Assistant Professor: Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness Virulence and Disease Severity, Host-Pathogen Interactions of Foodborne Pathogens

  • Bio Item
    Dr. Renee Raiden Boyer
    Renee Boyer , bio

    Department Head; Professor and Extension Specialist: Food Safety, Outreach

  • Bio Item
    Tatiana Lorca headshot
    Tatiana Lorca , bio

    Adjunct Assistant Professor; Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Canteen, a Compass Group Sector

  • Bio Item
    Yifan Cheng
    Yifan Cheng , bio

    Assistant Professor: Food Packaging, Food Process Engineering, Food Safety, Antimicrobial Nanostructures for Food Contact Surfaces, Intelligent Packaging