Sam R. Nugen

Sam R. Nugen is a Professor of Food Science at Cornell University, affiliated with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). His research focuses on synthetic biology and bacteriophage engineering for food and water safety, including developing phage-based biosensors and therapeutic options against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. He earned a PhD in Food Science (2008), an MS in Biological and Environmental Engineering (1999), and a BS from The University of Vermont (1997).

Research interests revolve around genetically engineering bacteriophages to detect pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli in food and water systems. Innovations include phage-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles for pathogen capture and luminescent reporter phages enabling rapid, low-cost diagnostics. His work emphasizes applications in low-resource settings.

Publications highlight advancements in phage-based detection systems, nanotechnology integration, and CRISPR/Cas9 engineering of phages. The Nugen Research Group collaborates on technologies to improve agricultural and environmental safety. No explicit scientific awards are listed, but his contributions to food safety are widely recognized through peer-reviewed outputs.

Teaching includes courses like FDSC 9900: Doctoral-Level Thesis Research and FDSC 4230: Food Processing. He leads the Nugen Research Group at Stocking Hall, Cornell University.