Center for Food Safety Engineering

The activities of the Center for Food Safety Engineering are administered by a director, Dr. Rich Linton, who is also the Assistant Director of Agricultural Research Programs. Dr. Linton is responsible for communicating research opportunities and assembling research teams for members of the Center for Food Safety Engineering. He is also responsible for managing the current cooperative agreement with USDA-ARS.

The director of the Food Safety Engineering Center seeks insight and advice from two committees, an oversight committee and an industry liaison group (see diagram). The oversight committee serves an advisory role for the everyday activities and structure of the Center for Food Safety Engineering. The oversight committee currently consists of several Department Heads representing Agriculture and Engineering, an Associate Dean of Extension, a center director from Veterinary Medicine, and the Associate Dean of Research in Agriculture. An industry liaison group is currently being assembled. They will interact with faculty to identify food safety research needs.

Within the center, additional support is provided to assist with center activities and outreach including clerical, business office, and AP staff. Multi-disciplinary research teams have been developed and will continue to be developed that include collaboration between different schools and departments including: food microbiologists, process engineers, engineers, chemists, biochemists, molecular, scientists, fruit and vegetable product specialists, animal product specialists, veterinarians, extension specialists, USDA scientists, and members of the food industry.