Angela Shaw, an experienced food microbiologist from Iowa State University, has been named a professor within Texas Tech University's Department of Animal & Food Sciences, according to officials within the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources. She officially steps into her new teaching and research post on Aug. 1.

Davis College Interim Dean Cindy Akers noted that Shaw brings 15 years of managing a teaching, research and extension program. Shaw indicated that at Texas Tech she will broadly focus on the discovery of new food safety interventions for the food industry that will reduce the risk of consumers getting sick from the foods they purchase in grocery stores, farmers markets and restaurants. 

“My life-long research mission is to reduce the food safety burden in the United States and abroad by conducting research that discovers novel food safety interventions from the farm to the consumer while training the next generation of food scientists,” Shaw said.

As a formally trained microbiologist, food scientist and meat scientist, her research program will focus on three main areas:

• Characterize foodborne pathogens survival within foods
• Evaluate and mitigate risky food safety behaviors from the farm to the consumer
• Establish research-based food safety interventions against foodborne pathogens within the food environment and/or food matrix

“I plan to expand my research portfolio to include alternative meat products, supply-chain risk modelling and e-commerce food businesses,” she added.

Shaw is the director of the North Central Regional Food Safety Modernization Act Center and prior to joining the Texas Tech faculty, she served as the director of the Iowa On-Farm Produce Safety Team – both centers are federally supported. She worked as an assistant and associate professor in Iowa State University-Ames' Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition. While completing her post-doctoral studies at Tech, Shaw served as BSL2 Food Safety Pathogen Laboratory Manager in Tech's Department of Animal & Food Sciences.

Shaw has been the principle investigator or co-principle investigator on 33 grants totaling $14.3 million; $4.5 million directly accredited to her lab. She has 46 peer reviewed publications, 47 extension publications, while she and her research group have presented at more than 100 food safety conferences and stakeholder meetings.

Recent honors include the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research; Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Excellence in Research-Based Programming Award; Iowa State University Award for Inclusive Excellence; 2020 Women Impacting Iowa State University Recipient, and College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Faculty Award for Diversity Enhancement.

Her bachelor's degree in animal science with an emphasis in product development and her master's degree in animal science with an emphasis in meat safety are from Iowa State University. Her doctorate in animal science with an emphasis in food microbiology is from Texas Tech. Her certifications include Lead Trainer for Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training; Trainer Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance Animal Food; Lead Trainer for Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance Human Food; Trainer Good Agricultural Practices/ Good Manufacturing Practices; Instructor Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point; and ServSafe through the National Restaurant Association.

Tech's Department of Animal & Food Sciences is housed in a modern research and teaching facility, and has excellent research support. There are 27 faculty members in the department, many are leading researchers in their respective fields. Areas of research emphasis include meat science and muscle biology, food science and safety, animal nutrition, health, and welfare and companion animal science.

CONTACT: Chance Brooks, Interim Chair and Professor, Department of Animal & Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or chance.brooks@ttu.edu

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