Education

·     Ph.D. Food Science and Technology, University of Tennessee.  Focus: Food toxicology and food microbiology.

·     M.S. Food Science and Technology, University of Tennessee.  Focus: Food microbiology and Food processing.

·     B.S. Food Science. National Chung-Shing University. Taiwan.

Employment History 4/2003-present

8/1994-3/2003

8/1992 – 7/1994

Research Food Technologist. Residue Chemistry and Predictive Microbiology Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA. Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.

·        Research on the effects of product formulations, processing, handling, and storage conditions on the microbiological quality and safety of processed and ready-to-eat foods.

·        Development of mathematical models (growth, probability, and growth/no growth boundary models) describing the growth characteristics of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in food products as affected by food and environmental factors.

Food Microbiologist. Food Safety and Microbiology, Nestlé Product Technology Center. New Milford, Connecticut.

·        Food safety enhancement and shelf life extension: Refrigerated products (pasta, pasta sauce, savory ingredients, cookies dough), shelf stable products (LACF, minimally processed soups, fixes, sauces), beverages (coffee liquor/distillate, creamer, chocolate syrup, tea, cocoa-based drinks), and nutritional products.

·        HACCP development, validation, and implementation.   

·        Food laws and regulations: U.S. Food Code, food safety regulations, FDA/USDA regulatory compliance, design and hygiene standards for food equipments/dispensers, and food safety management for foodservice establishments.

·        Clostridium botulinum challenge study and documentation for FDA LACF filing.

·        Thermal lethality determination for processes development.

·        Hygiene and safety of food equipments and beverage dispensers.

Post-doctoral Research Associate. Center for Food Safety and Quality Enhancement, University of Georgia. Griffin, Georgia.

Committee Assignments and Advisory Activities

-    Associate Editor, Food Safety and Microbiology section, Journal of Food Science, Institute of Food Technologists, 2010-present.

-    Vice-chair, Management Committee, the Food Protection Trends magazine, International Association for Food Protection, 2013-present

-    Member, Management Committee, the Food Protection Trends magazine, International Association for Food Protection, 2010-2013.

-    Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Food Protection, International Association for Food Protection, 2003-2012.

-    Member, Technical Committee, the Refrigerated Foods Association. 2010-present.

-    Co-coordinator, the Center of Excellence in Microbial Modeling and Informatics (CEMMI), ERRC-ARS-USDA. 2009-present. 

-    Chair, 2010 Refrigerated Foods Association Symposium. 2010.

-    Group Leader, Data Gaps workgroup, the Interagency Risk Assessment Consortium (IRAC). 2003-2008.

-    Manuscript and book proposal reviewer for the Academic Press, CRC Press, Journal of Food Science, International Journal of Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology, Letters in Applied Microbiology, Journal of Food Safety, Journal of Dairy Science, Food Control, and Journal of Food Engineering.

Professional Memberships

-    International Association for Food Protection.

-    Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

-    IFT Certified Food Scientist

-    Taiwan Association for Food Protection.

-    Refrigerated Foods Association.