Project Number: 1935-42000-070-03
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2010
End Date: Aug 31, 2013

Objective:
This agreement is based on a USDA-NIFA “1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program" grant award. The grant aims to strengthen the existing food science graduate curriculum at Alabama A&M University. The specific objectives are: 1) to prepare students for a career in food safety through integration of molecular food safety research, education, and outreach; 2) to train and mentor underrepresented Food Science students in molecular food safety and emerging technologies; 3) to disseminate tangible knowledge generated by up to date food safety research by developing an innovative curriculum (3-credit hour courses) to address different aspects of contemporary molecular food safety education; 4) to develop project-based learning activities including internships at federal food safety research labs at the USDA-ARS and in industry (in processing or diagnostic companies), and to expand collaborative linkages and partnerships with other universities; and 5) to develop summer laboratory and experimental learning activities for high school students and teachers.

Approach:
USDA-ARS will host a graduate student(s) in the CBG program for summer internship(s) at the Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) to work on a project focusing on molecular methods for detection and characterization of food-borne pathogens.