AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presented the Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research to Angela Shaw, associate professor in food science and human nutrition and extension specialist.
Shaw’s research is focused on food safety intervention practices from the farm through the grocery store environment. Her research, extension and outreach funding has attracted more than $3 million from external and internal sources.
For the past three years, Shaw has led regional efforts to help fruit and vegetable growers and food processors throughout the Midwest to improve practices to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks. The work is done as part of the North Central Region Center (NCR) for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Training, Extension, and Technical Assistance.
Her team trains fruit and vegetable growers and processors on best food safety practices. Produce growers with more than $28,075 in annual produce sales must go through the required Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. The success of the trainings is determined through surveys distributed to participants at the end of the year.
To learn more about her research go to https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/fight-against-foodborne-illnesses
Shaw received her bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2003 and her master’s degree in 2006 from Iowa State. She received her doctorate in microbiology from Texas Tech University in 2010. Shaw began her work at Iowa State in 2011.
The Kolmer Award is named for a former college dean and honors faculty or staff who have made significant contributions to improving the welfare of Iowans through research. Lee Kolmer and his wife Jean established the award. Kolmer served as dean of the college for 14 years beginning in 1973.