Food Safety
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Faculty Members

 

Mindy Brashears, Ph.D.

Professor, Food Safety & Food Microbiology

Director, International Center for Food Industry Excellence (ICFIE)

mindy.brashears@ttu.edu

AFS 207; (806) 742-2805 ext. 235

 

 

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Degrees Earned

Bachelor of Science, Food Technology
Texas Tech University (1992)

Master of Science, Food Science
Oklahoma State University (1994)

Doctor of Philosophy, Food Science
Oklahoma State University (1997)

Biography

After completing her Ph.D. she became an assistant professor, at the University of Nebraska in the Department of Food Science and Technology from 1997-2001.  She is currently a professor and Director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University.  Her research focuses on interventions in pre and post harvest environments and on the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistance.  She teaches courses in food microbiology and food safety and offers industry training opportunities in HACCP, advanced HACCP, food sanitation, recalls and food security.

She is currently the Chair of the National Alliance for Food Safety and Security and is past-chair of the USDA multi-state research group, Ensuring Food Safety through Control of Food-borne Pathogens and involved in multiple professional groups.  She has an extensive publication record in peer reviewed journals and has been invited to speak at national and international events on the topics of her research.  Her research is the basis of multiple technologies currently used in the industry and she targets her research to solving the needs of the food industry.

 
Other Faculty

Enusha Karunasena, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

enusha.karunasena@ttuhsc.edu

enusha.karunasena@ttu.edu

(806) 742-5073 ext. 267

 

 

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Degrees Earned

Bachelor of Science, Microbiology
University of Texas at Austin

Master of Science, Microbiology & Immunology
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Thesis: "Stachybotrys chartarum mycotoxins and growth prevention"

Doctor of Philosophy, Microbiology & Immunology
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Dissertation: "The mechanism of neurotoxicity induce by a trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Stachybotrys chartarum in an in vitro model"

Research Areas

Evaluating host-stress influence on food-borne pathogens and the host environment, including: gastrointestinal system, immune/endocrine systems, and microbiota

Influence of beneficial microbes (probiotics or direct-fed microbials) on the host environment and microbiota

Specific Research Topics

Intrakingdom Communication Studies:
    Host/microbe interaction in cattle stress-associated response by Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and Salmonella species
    Cattle-stress associated to transporation-related feed deprivation and its influence on Escherichia coli 0157:H7 virulence and proliferaton

Beneficial Microbe Intervention Studies:
    Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis associated enteric disease and beneficial microbe intervention to reduce pathogenesis
    Beneficial microbe associated gut-floral changes
    Host gastrointestinal tissue response (immune/endocrine systems) to beneficial microbes

 

 

Christine Alvarado, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Poultry Processing

christine.alvarado@ttu.edu

AFS 209; (806) 742-2805 ext. 234

 

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Markus F. Miller, Ph.D.

SALE Chair - Meat Science, Food Processing & Preservation

mfmrraider@aol.com

AFS 200H; (806) 742-2805 ext. 231

 

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Chance Brooks, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Meat Science

chance.brooks@ttu.edu

AFS 200G; (806) 742-2805 ext. 230

 

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Leslie D. Thompson, Ph.D.

Associate Chairman/Professor, Food Science & Safety

leslie.thompson@ttu.edu

AFS 103E; (806) 742-2805 ext. 224

 

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Pawan Takhar, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Food Engineering

pawan.takhar@ttu.edu

http://apps.depts.ttu.edu/afs/home/ptakhar/

AFS 215; (806) 742-2805 ext. 258

 

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Todd Brashears, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Agricultural Leadership

todd.brashears@ttu.edu

AGED 207; (806) 742-2816

 

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