Degree Pursuing:

Ph.D.

Degrees:

• B.S. Food Science, Cornell University (2020)

Research:

My research interest is in food microbiology, specifically in food virology. As an undergraduate researcher, my work involved genetically engineering the tail fibers of bacteriophage with the goal of expanding phage endogenous host range to include a wider array of E. coli strains. This expansion in host range is of particular importance for use in water safety as its evaluation relies on the diversity of E. coli as an indicator species. My thesis project in Dr. DiCaprio’s lab will focus on foodborne viruses and their interaction with food surfaces, specifically produce. This work will test the efficacy of common treatments at inactivating and/or removing foodborne viruses from produce in order to enhance consumer safety from various microbiological agents.