Research Interests: TBA

Jack Cappozzo, Director of Chemistry at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology. B.S., University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; B.S., Chemistry, Elmhurst College, M.S. Biochemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology

Research Interests: Analytical chemistry with emphasis on separation science using high pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Interest has been on new methods of analysis using HPLC-MS/MS to detect ultra-low levels of B-vitamins and flavonoids. Flavonoids have been linked to antioxidant activity and health benefits in the area of cardiovascular and over-all health.  Methods of analysis for flavonoids and other phenolic antioxidants by HPLC MS/MS are being developed for food matrices and clinical serum samples that support clinical trials being done at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology. In addition, core work is also done in the areas of allergen cleaning and methods validation, heat toxicology detection of furan, mycotoxin determination of aflatoxin and fumonosins, packaging migration and determination of bisphenol A, acrylamide mitigation, veterinary drug residues, pesticides and chemical contaminants.

Darsh Wasan, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Vice President for International Affairs, and Motorola Chair. Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley (Chemical Engineering, 1965)

Research Interests: Interfacial colloidal phenomena, foams, emulsions and dispersions, and food and environmental technologies.

Dr. Burton-Freeman, B.S., Dietetics; Minor, Chemistry, California State University, Chico, Chico, California, M.S.and,Ph.D., Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California

Research interests: Appetite and obesity management and, Vascular disease. Research emphasizes the effects of bioactive food components on mechanistic and behavioral processes of food intake and body weight regulation. Properties of fibers, micro- and macro- molecule interactions, and food matrix effects in the gut to alter metabolic and endocrine systems are a primary focus. Effects of dietary constituents on vascular disease include evaluation of endothelium function, platelet activation, inflammatory and oxidative stress responses during acute and chronic interventions. The research approach includes human and basic science methodology.

Eric F. Greenberg, Partner, Ungaretti & Harris, Chicago, IL Adjunct Faculty, Food Law & Regulations.

Eric F. Greenberg is a partner in the law firm of Ungaretti & Harris, where his practice is concentrated in Food and Drug Law, packaging law, and commercial litigation. His food and drug work has included regulatory counseling, new product development, negotiation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on numerous levels, handling recalls, and defending enforcement actions.

Research Interests: Kinetics, transport phenomena, statistics and system analysis as applied to sterilization process engineering. Applied research interests correspond to the use of high pressure, radiation, moist-heat; and ethylene oxide and other disinfectants to sterilize pharmaceutical and biological products.

Research Interests: Microbial food safety and security; PCR detection and molecular tracking of foodborne pathogens; comparative genomics; study of bacterial pathogenesis, epidemilogy, evolution and emergence of new pathotypes; identification of novel bacterial virulence factors; DNA microarray analysis of global gene expressions of foodborne pathogens under environmental or food food processing stresses; MALDI-TOF mass spectometry analysis of bacterial proteopmes; applications of DNA fingerprinting technology; development of high throughput SNP genotyping for foodborne disease surveillance and bioterrorism investigations.

Dr. Alvin Lee

Alvin Lee, Ph.D., Senior Scientist/Assistant Research Professor, is a microbiologist and virologist with more than 10 years research experience with a PhD in biotechnology and applied biology from RMIT University in Australia. He currently leads a number of food safety related projects at NCFST involving fresh-cut produce, norovirus transfer within the foodservice sector and non-thermal technologies. Dr. Lee also manages the BSL-3 facility at NCFST. Current research support includes funding from USDA, NCFPD, FDA and various industry contracts.  He is also an instructor for food microbiology in the IIT’s Masters of Science program and has previously mentored more than 15 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

He is currently a member of the American Society for Microbiology, International Association for Food Protection and the Australian Society for Microbiology.

Dr. Indika Edirisinghe

Dr. Indika Edirisinghe, Senior Scientist/ Research Assistant Professor of Biology, B.S., University of Delhi, India, M.phil, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University  of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka/ University of California, Davis, Davis, California.

Research interests: Effect of polyphenolic compound on endothelial function, blood pressure regulation, platelet function, insulin resistance, inflammatory and oxidative stress responses during acute and chronic interventions. The research approach includes human cell culture, animal models and human clinical trials.