Kerry K Cooper

Dr. Kerry K Cooper is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona's School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Sterling College (1998) and a Ph.D. in Pathobiology from the University of Arizona (2007). His research focuses on food safety, bacterial foodborne pathogens, and the microbiome of fruits and vegetables. Dr. Cooper’s work spans necrotic enteritis in poultry, Campylobacter genomics, and produce safety interventions. His postdoctoral training included studies at the USDA’s Produce Safety and Microbiology Unit.

Research interests include bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms, microbiome dynamics in agricultural products, and antimicrobial resistance. Recent studies examine microbiome shifts in tree fruits and melons, as well as Campylobacter’s role in human infections and environmental transmission. Dr. Cooper’s lab investigates foodborne epidemiology, whole-genome sequencing, and outbreak source tracking using innovative genomic and bioinformatics approaches.

Key contributions include developing molecular diagnostics for Campylobacter species and analyzing genomic determinants of drug resistance in low-resource settings. His work bridges basic science and public health, addressing global challenges in food safety and zoonotic disease control.