Juming Tang

Dr. Juming Tang is a Regents’ Professor and Distinguished Chair of Food Engineering at Washington State University (WSU), leading research in microwave thermal processing and food safety. He holds positions in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering within the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. His roles include former Chair of the department and Director of the USDA-funded Center of Excellence for Food Safety using Microwave Energy.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, University of Saskatchewan (1991)
  • M.S. in Agricultural Engineering, University of Guelph (1987)
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Central-South University of Technology (1982)

Research Focus: Dr. Tang’s work centers on microwave and radio frequency (RF) technologies for food safety, including microwave sterilization/pasteurization of packaged foods and low-moisture food safety. His innovations led to the first FDA-approved microwave sterilization processes in the U.S. He investigates thermal inactivation of pathogens, packaging systems, and emerging technologies for commercial and military food systems.

Key Achievements: Over 20 major awards, including membership in the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Fellowships in multiple professional societies (IFT, ASABE), and FDA/USDA approvals for novel sterilization methods. He directs consortia involving academia, industry, and government.

• Grants & Leadership:
  • PI of USDA-funded projects on microbial pathogen control in retail foods
  • Leader of the Microwave Sterilization Consortium (industry-academia collaboration)
• Labs/Teams: Microwave Sterilization Lab, Food Engineering Group, and collaborations with NASA on space food systems.