Minto Michael

Minto Michael is an Assistant Professor of Dairy Science at Washington State University's School of Food Science. His research focuses on applied food microbiology, particularly dairy microbiology and food safety. He leads two laboratories: a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) Dairy Microbiology Lab and a Food Processing Lab, addressing probiotic longevity, dairy product safety, and antimicrobial interventions. He teaches courses like Dairy Processing and Science on Your Plate. His work includes thermal inactivation studies, hyperspectral imaging for pathogen detection, and ultrafine bubble technology applications in food safety.

Education: Ph.D. (2014), M.S. (2010), and B.E. (2006) in Food Science/Technology from Kansas State University and Punjab's Sant Longowal Institute. Postdoctoral research at Kansas State University's Food Safety and Defense Lab (2015–2018) and prior roles as a Quality Control Analyst in India.

Research emphasizes dairy powder safety, biofilm removal, and rapid pathogen identification via hyperspectral imaging. Collaborations include validation of food processing steps (e.g., baking, frying) to control pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria. Over 30 peer-reviewed publications focus on thermal inactivation parameters, antimicrobial efficacy, and probiotic viability.

Awards and grants: No explicit mentions, but extensive industry partnerships and federally funded research projects are implied through published outputs. Active lab teams and student mentorship in food safety innovation.

Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary teams in food microbiology, collaborating with industry partners on applied safety solutions. Research extends to pet food, bakery, and dairy sectors.