Dr. Blaustein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science since 2022. His focus on microbial ecology in food and agriculture systems extends from interdisciplinary themes in metagenomics and human health (Postdoc training at Northwestern University and National Institutes of Health), crop-microbiome interactions (PhD, University of Florida, 2017), and foodborne pathogen fate and transport modeling (MS, University of Maryland, 2014). Connect on LinkedIn. Email: rblauste@umd.edu

Dr. Mairui Gao joined the lab in 2024. She received her PhD from the University of Connecticut, focusing on applying probiotics to promote poultry production and food safety. As a postdoctoral researcher, she incorporates artificial intelligence and genomics to explore the evolution, transmission and adaptation of foodborne pathogens across the food supply chain, including Cronobacter sakazakii and Campylobacter jejuni. In addition to genomics, she studies microbiomes in urban farming and organic produce. Connect on LinkedIn. Email: mrgao@umd.edu

Qingyue is a third-year PhD student. She is deeply interested in exploring the microbiome research to address pressing challenges in food science. Currently, she is leading a project that investigates microbial dynamics in food waste composting, focusing on the impacts of environmental conditions on food safety and antimicrobial resistance. Her work aims to enhance composting practices to support sustainable solutions in food waste reuse. Email: zengqy@umd.edu

Erin is from St. Louis, Missouri and joined the lab in August of 2024. She has an interest in using genomics to identify food safety risks in agriculture systems such as antibiotic resistance. During her undergrad at Missouri State University, she studied rhizobial endophytes in soybean root systems. She also spent two summers at the USDA studying pathogenic organisms found in dairy cattle using whole genome sequencing as well as metagenomics. In her spare time, Erin loves to bake and spend time with her cat Velma. Connect on LinkedIn. Email: eharrels@umd.edu

James joined the lab in 2024, coming from a Food Science and Technology background at Texas A&M University. Their research focuses on the microbiome of vineyards in Maryland and novel wine fermentation utilizing natural microflora. Connect on LinkedIn. Email: jeffrey2@umd.edu

Manana Dlangalala is a Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher from the University of Pretoria, South Africa (SA), where she is completing her PhD in Plant Science. Passionate about applying science to real-world challenges, her research focuses on using the One Health approach to investigate the interconnectedness of plant, animal, and environmental health, to advance food safety and farming practices, particularly in integrated crop and pig systems in SA.

At the University of Maryland, Manana explores advanced molecular and genomic methods for detecting and characterizing foodborne pathogens, with the goal of strengthening food safety surveillance and mitigating antimicrobial resistance. Through her Fulbright experience, she seeks to expand her research through international collaborations, gain global/ diverse perspectives, build global professional networks, ultimately enhancing her impact as a scientist, mentor, and advocate for sustainable agriculture.

Connect on LinkedIn.