People in JLRG

Name: Jung-lim Lee Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Brief Bio:
University of Massachusetts, Department of Food Science, Amherst, MA
2004 – 2010 Post-doctoral fellow
Kyung-Hee University, Korea
2003 Ph.D. - Food Science & Biotechnology
1999 M.S. - Food Science & Biotechnology
Hankyong National University, Korea
1997 Degree: B.S. - Food Science & Technology

Name: Ji-Yeun Kim Ph.D., Postdoctoral fellow.

Brief Bio:

Seoul National University

1999-2003 B.S. - Food and Nutrition

2003-2008 M.S. and Ph.D. - Food and Nutrition

Kook Min University

2008-2010. Postdoctoral researcher

National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA

2010-2012 Postdoctoral researcher

Delaware State University

2012- Postdoctoral researcher

Research Project:

Study is investigating the detection and quantification of viable Vibrio spp. and total bacteria from seafood and water. To develop fast and sensitive methodologies, chemical and molecular biological methods have been applied. This assay will quantitatively detect these pathogens and will be helpful in assuring the safety of the world’s seafood supply.

Name: Janay A. Young, MS Student

Brief Bio:

Delaware State University

2008-2012 B.S. - Food and Nutritional Science

Delaware State University

2012- M.S. - Food Science Microbiology

Research Project:

The aim of this study is to isolate bacteriocin-producing probiotics derived from fermentation foods and poultry for controlling reductions of Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. in live poultry.

Name: Michael E. Hickey, MS Student

Brief Bio:

Wesley College

2009- 2011 - Biology

Delaware State University

2011- 2014 B.S. - Food and Nutritional Science

Delaware State University
2012- M.S. - Food Science Microbiology

Research Project:

Current study is focusing on the study of rapid detection methods of pathogenic bacterial spp. derived from environmental samples. With advances in molecular biotechnology, simple sampling, and detection methods of hazardous bacteria can be applied to countless fields for the improvement of product quality and microbial safety.

Name: Esam Almuhaideb, MS Student
Brief Bio:
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
1997-2001 B.S. – Food Science & Nutrition
Delaware State University
2014- M.S. - Food Science Microbiology
Research Project:
This research is to express and purify DNase and Protease from spoilage bacterial strains and study its biochemical characteristics based on molecular assays. This study will provide informative data to understand spoilage mechanism in seafood during storage.

Name: Gina M. Accumanno, Undergraduate Research Student

Brief Bio:

Delaware State University

2010- B.S. - Food and Nutritional Science

Research Project:

Current study is isolation of extracellular enzyme-producing bacteria on catfish spoilage. With a further understanding of bacterial spp. present on fish fillets at psychotropic temperature, a stronger understanding of bacterial-spoilage mechanisms of fish tissue can be evaluated.

Name: Rosalyn Battle, Undergraduate Research Student
Brief Bio:
Delaware State University
2012- B.S. - Food and Nutritional Science
Research Project:
Current study is focusing on the study of detection and identification of pathogenic bacterial spp. using the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). By using the LIBS assay, detection sensitivity will be examined comparing with the Rti-PCR assay.

Advising (Former lab members)

Name: Christopher Donald, MS Students
Brief Bio:
Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL
2005-2010 B.S.- Department of Biological Science
Delaware State University
2010-2012 M.S. – Food Science Microbiology
Research Project:
In my research I will be studying the quality of fish products, by developing a rapid method to quantify total and spoilage viable bacteria derived from fillet fish, using Multiplex Real-time PCR. In this study, the Real-time PCR is applied to the detection of the multi-target genes by primers and specific probes.

Name: KaLonna Maull, MS Students
Brief Bio:
Delaware State University
2006-2010 B.S.- Food and Nutritional Science
Delaware State University
2010-2012 M.S. – Food Science Microbiology
Research Project:
The aim of this study is to isolate and identify spoilage species bacteria from catfish. Methods of identification will be achieved through biochemical and molecular biological assays. This research looks to target a specific spoilage organism in hopes of understanding, deferring and even preventing microbial degradation.

Name: Talaysha Lingham, MS Students
Brief Bio:
Delaware State University
2006-2010 B.S.- Food and Nutritional Science
Delaware State University
2010-2012 M.S. – Food Science Microbiology
Research Project:
I’m interested in the antimicrobial activity from plant products and its natural organic acids. The aim of my research is to study these products on various bacteria species and apply natural components to foods. The characterization of the activity will be analyzed using molecular biological assays.

Name: Samuel Sojourner, MS Students
Brief Bio:
South Carolina State University, Spartanburg
2005-2009 B.S.- Biology
Delaware State University
2010-2012. M.S. – Food Science Microbiology
Research Project:
USDA- Agricultural Research Service, June 2006-August 2006
Conducted research in the Microbiology Laboratory on discovering the bactericidal effects of Electrolyzed water and E. coli. This experiment was significant because electrolyzed water can be successfully used as an antimicrobial agent to reduce contamination in a variety of fields and industries including poultry processing.

USDA- Agricultural Research Service, Intern, June 2006-August 2006
Contributed in Poultry Research laboratory on experiments with processed cleaner chickens and water runoff to discover the level of contamination in respect to E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella and other bacteria found in raw poultry as it is processed. These experiments were important in preventing and reducing contamination of poultry meat and products as they are processed.

Student Interns

Caroline Davis, Rutgers University, NJ (2013)
Project title: Optimization of the multiplex PCR assay for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 virulence genes in ground beef.

Jonie Woodard, Wesley College, DE (2013)
Project title: Development of simple sampling method for detecting Vibrio anguillarum from seawater.

Yan Wang, Delaware State University (2012)
Project title: Study of pathogenic Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria derived from ground beef and hamburger patties.

Elodie Perreu, Polytech Clermont-Ferrand, France (2012)
Project title: Screening of DNase-Producing bacteria derived from catfish in DSU aquaculture facility.

Bastein Gembka. Polytech Clermont-Ferrand, France (2012)
Project title: Screening of protease-producing bacteria derived from catfish in DSU aquaculture facility.