Abigail Snyder, from the Department of Food Science, studies how different conditions in food processing environments can contribute to the rise of microbial communities. Her main focus is developing solutions to challenges in food safety, including cross-contamination and spoilage.
“We have to manage food safety hazards in order to minimize the impact of foodborne disease,” Snyder said.
Kaitlin Gold is in the plant pathology and plant-microbe biology section of the School of Integrative Plant Science. Gold, based at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York, researches grape disease management.
“Our overarching goal,” Gold said, “is to combine new sensing technologies, data science and fundamental plant pathology to improve the three pillars of integrated grape disease management – understanding pathogen biology, host susceptibility and fungicide efficacy.”
The new faculty support CALS’ mission to support both natural and human systems in financially and ecologically sustainable ways, while helping Cornell tackle global challenges, including COVID-19.
“We have seen the power of research and education to help communities near and far recover from global crisis,” said Kathryn J. Boor ’80, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS. “The current crisis underscores the importance of our faculty’s research, teaching and contributions to community-based outreach and extension programs.”
