Meet the Team!
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Gracie Allison Gracie is originally from Saint Joseph, Missouri. She is currently a freshman perusing a bachelor's in general microbiology at Kansas State University. She is involved in undergraduate research where she studies the growth and development of mixed-species biofilms alongside Aysu. Their research continues in hopes to reduce food-borne pathogen related illnesses and decrease biofilm formation in our food production lines. |
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Alice Colli Alice Colli is originally from Italy and received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Applied Geological Sciences from the University of Turin (UNITO), specializing in the field of crystal growth. During her bachelor's and master's degrees, she worked in the crystal growth laboratory, where her research focused on the study of the “Dolomite problem,” with special attention the factors that can promote magnesium desolvation. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. focused on understanding the factors that can promote the formation of calcium and magnesium carbonates, evaluating both inorganic factors such as pH fluctuations, gas-phase interactions, ionic interactions and substrates, and organic factors such as the presence of organic molecules or organisms, paying particular attention to bacterial activity. |
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Aysu Deniz Aysu grew up in Ankara, Turkey. She completed her B.S and M.S in food engineering from Middle East Technical University. During her master’s she worked in Food Safety lab, where her research focused on the isolation and characterization of Salmonella bacteriophages as an alternative method to antibiotics, aiming to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance in food supply chain. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. focusing on understanding the formation and characteristics of biofilms by Listeria, both as single-species and dual-species biofilms on food contact surfaces. Additionally, her work involves evaluating the efficacy of various sanitation strategies to mitigate biofilm formation, addressing a critical issue in food safety and public health. |
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Victoria Alejandra López Victoria is originally from Honduras and earned her B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from the Pan American Agricultural School (Zamorano). She completed two internships at K-State, where she focused on the development of novel sorghum fermented beverages. Currently, Victoria is pursuing her master’s degree, with research that explores the impact of solid-state fermentation on the nutritional quality of sorghum grains and its potential effects on human health. Her work is driven by a keen interest in understanding how food, particularly fermentation processes, influences the human gut and overall well-being. |
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Nilsson Toro Ferrera Nilsson Toro Ferrera is a Honduran professional with a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from the Pan-American Agricultural University, Zamorano. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in food science at Kansas State University, conducting research in the Food and Microbiology Laboratory. His work focuses on developing effective strategies to control and mitigate microbial contamination risks in live haul trailers. Upon graduation, he aims to work in the food industry, contributing to food safety through innovative solutions and research-driven practices. |
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Madeleine Pike Maddie is a Texas-native with a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Texas A&M University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health Degree with an emphasis in food safety and biosecurity at Kansas State University, where she conducts research in the microbiology lab. Her work surrounds the understanding of microbiological criteria of a sorghum- based hummus to further implement policy and trade regulations. |
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Emanoelli Santos Emanoelli is originally from Brazil with B. Sc. in Veterinary Medicine from the Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA). She is a specialist in the Inspection of Animal-Origin Products from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and has a M. S in Animal Science from UFPR, focusing on Microbiology applied to Animal Production. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Veterinary Medicine at São Paulo State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP) - Botucatu-SP and a visiting scholar, developing a project on Mapping microbial diversity and resistome in conventional and antibiotic-free chicken farming and its implications for One Health. |
Past Students |
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Chiara Lynn Abou Elias, Jaime Andres Zelaya, Dr. KaWang Li, Vannith Hay, Colton Ivers, Erin Manville, Olivia Harrison, Mackenzie Mayo, April Moliton, Katie Rhine, Gabriela Magossi, Taylor Jamison, Hanna Otto, Mirella Maite Gomez, Ellen Mendez Sosa, Austin McDaniel |
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