Eva Borjas

Managed the molecular biology laboratories, planning, inventories, and conducted routine testing. -Methods included subculture and isolation of bacterial, yeast and mold, nucleic acid extraction and purification, PCR, real-time PCR, automated Sanger sequencing, capillary and microfluidic electrophoresis. Detection of Hepatitis A and Norovirus: virus concentration, RNA extraction and rtPCR.

Assisted in research to elucidate survival, biofilm formation and surface attachment properties of knockout mutant libraries of Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes. •Commonly used techniques: vector cloning, nucleic acid hybridization, PCR, electrophoresis, qPCR, cryogenic storage.

Conducted environmental sampling, isolation and molecular subtyping of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in meat processing facilities (Thesis project); Developed a bilingual food safety training program, for meat handlers and management staff.

Control of raw and packaging materials inventory (annual budget $28MM). Implementation of Key Performance Indicators, GMP, SOP, SSOP’s

Conducted sample collection, physical and chemical analysis for thesis project: “Establishment and validation of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy calibration curves for ham quality control in a commercial scale meat processing plant."

Performed microbiological assays for the project: “Reject banana usage for acid lactic production at a pilot scale”; Developed Standard operational procedures; Assisted in quality audits of dairy processing facilities.

Microbiology, Molecular approaches to Food Safety

Agriculture, Post-Harvest, Food Processing