Education:

Ph.D., Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech , 2006
M.S., Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, 2002
B.S., Biology, Radford University, 1999

Research Interests:

Pre and post harvest interventions to enhance the safety of fresh and fresh cut fruits and vegetables.
Most specifically:

1. Mechanisms for attachment and persistence of pathogenic bacteria on produce items.
2. Internalization of Salmonella and/or E. coli O157:H7 into tomatoes and leaf lettuces.
3. The use of high pressure processing to inactivate pathogenic bacteria on produce.

Extension Program:

My extension program focuses on Consumer Food Safety Education. I am the extension specialist leading the states Food Safety Team. This team includes a district program leader and 4 extension agents from across the state of Virginia. Our charge is to evaluate the educational programming needs for the citizens of Virginia and provide food safety curriculum. Current programs offered include: Serv safe, Cooking for Crowds and So Easy to Preserve.

Recent Publications:

Boyer, R. R. S. S. Sumner, R. C. Williams, M. D. Pierson, K. A. Kniel, and D. L. Popham.  2007. Influence of Curli Expression by Escherichia coli O157:H7 on the Cells Overall Hydrophobicity, Charge and Ability to Attach to Lettuce. (Accepted for publication in Journal of Food Protection).

Raiden, R. M., S. S. Sumner, J. D. Eifert, and M. D. Pierson. 2003. Efficacy of Detergents to Remove Salmonella and Shigella spp. from the Surface of Fresh Produce. Journal of Food Protection. 66:2210-2215.

Raiden, R. M., S. S. Sumner, J. D. Eifert, and M. D. Pierson. 2002. Survivability of Salmonella and Shigella spp. in Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Tween 80 at 22 and 40°C. Journal Food Protection 66:1462-1464.

Raiden, R. M., S. S. Sumner, and M. D. Pierson. 2001. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: A Brief Overview. Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation.  21:685-690.

Extension Publications:

Parra, D., S. Nickols-Richardson, E. Serrano, R. R. Boyer. 2007.  The Nitty Gritty of Food Safety: A Guide for Parents and Childcare Providers.