Alejandro Castillo

Alejandro (Alex) Castillo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Texas A&M University, within the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. His research focuses on microbial food safety, pathogen control in fresh produce, and antimicrobial technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Food Science & Technology from Texas A&M University (1998), preceded by degrees from the University of Guadalajara (B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc.).

Key research areas include developing control measures for foodborne pathogens, microbial ecology in fresh produce, and food safety innovations such as superhydrophobic coatings and antimicrobial interventions. He collaborates on projects like Agriculture Water Treatment in the Southwest Region and Next-Generation Smart Surfaces for specialty crops.

His recent publications emphasize antimicrobial coatings, pathogen survival mechanisms, and food safety training efficacy. He teaches courses like Microbiology of Foods and Food Safety Principles at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Dr. Castillo’s work bridges academic research and industry application, with a focus on improving food hygiene practices and reducing contamination risks in agricultural and food processing environments.