Parveen Salina

Dr. Parveen Salina is a Full Professor in the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. With over 30 years of experience, she has established a nationally and internationally recognized research program in food safety and water quality, securing more than $22 million in competitive funding. Dr. Parveen serves on the USDA Food and Inspection Service (FSIS) National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and is an expert consultant for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) on antimicrobial resistance.

• PhD in Food Science-Microbiology, University of Florida, 1997
• MS in Microbiology, University of Dhaka, 1988
• BS in Botany, University of Dhaka, 1986

Dr. Parveen's research focuses on Food Safety, Food and Environmental Microbiology, and Water Quality. Her work applies the One Health Approach to improve safety of seafood, poultry, meat, and fresh produce. She develops rapid molecular and immunological methods for pathogen detection, studies antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and applies machine learning, nanotechnology, genomics, and metagenomics to understand pathogen ecology in food environments. Her research has significant implications for food safety regulations and practices, particularly in the Eastern Shore of Maryland and internationally.

Dr. Parveen's recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on advanced genomic and metagenomic approaches to food safety challenges. Her work examines antimicrobial resistance in pathogens like Salmonella and Shewanella, develops novel detection methods using sequencing technologies, and investigates pathogen ecology in diverse food systems from poultry to oysters. The research spans from fundamental molecular mechanisms to applied food safety solutions for farmers' markets and aquaculture value chains, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

• Received numerous awards for establishing research and education programs at UMES
• Founding member and president of the Bangladesh Association for Food Protection (BAFP)
• Expert consultant for United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on antimicrobial resistance

Dr. Parveen has directed over 50 graduate research students, primarily at the PhD level, and has mentored more than 265 students, scientists, and regulators from diverse backgrounds and countries. Her $22+ million in research funding has supported numerous USDA and USAID projects focused on food safety training and research, particularly for underrepresented minorities. She actively collaborates with researchers across the United States and internationally, with significant work in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

While no specific lab name is mentioned, Dr. Parveen leads a multidisciplinary research program at UMES focused on food safety and water quality. Her team applies cutting-edge genomic, metagenomic, and machine learning approaches to study foodborne pathogens in diverse environments including poultry processing, seafood, fresh produce, and agricultural water systems. The research group works closely with local Eastern Shore farmers, seafood producers, and regulatory agencies to translate scientific findings into practical food safety solutions.