Jennifer J. Perry

Jennifer J. Perry is an Associate Professor of Food Microbiology at the University of Maine's School of Food and Agriculture. She holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University (2010). Her research focuses on microbial food spoilage mechanisms, non-thermal food safety interventions, probiotic delivery systems, and gut microbiome interactions. She teaches FSN 238 (Applied Food Microbiology and Sanitation) and FSN 438/439 (Food Microbiology/Laboratory).

Dr. Perry investigates Salmonella contamination dynamics, ozone-based egg pasteurization, and the impact of dietary probiotics on gastrointestinal microbial communities. Her work emphasizes minimizing food quality degradation while enhancing safety. Recent studies explore novel methods for high-count probiotic incorporation in food products and the genomic responses of GI tract microbiota to dietary changes.

Publications (2012–2014) highlight her work on egg safety, non-thermal technologies, and Salmonella thermal resistance under osmotic conditions. She is actively recruiting graduate students for projects involving food safety innovation, with stipend and tuition support available.