Xiaonan Lu

Xiaonan Lu is a Professor at McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, holding the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry. They serve as a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Food Safety, Ian & Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety, and William Dawson Scholar. Their research spans multiple critical areas within food safety and analytical food science.

Dr. Lu's research focuses on developing innovative detection technologies for food safety applications. Their work integrates food microbiology, analytical chemistry, and engineering to address challenges in pathogen detection, food authentication, and contaminant analysis. Key research areas include food safety engineering, food synthetic biology, cellular agriculture, and the development of smart materials for food applications. They employ advanced techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, CRISPR-based detection systems, microfluidics, and machine learning to create rapid, sensitive detection methods.

Analysis of Dr. Lu's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical food safety solutions with immediate industry applications. Their work spans multiple food safety challenges including pathogen detection (particularly Campylobacter), mycotoxin analysis, food authentication, and novel antimicrobial approaches. The research demonstrates a clear progression toward more sensitive, rapid, and field-deployable detection technologies, with increasing integration of machine learning and advanced materials science.

Scientific awards:

• Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Food Safety
• William Dawson Scholar
• Ian & Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety

Dr. Lu leads a research group focused on food safety engineering and detection technologies. Their work has significant implications for food industry practices, regulatory frameworks, and consumer protection. Current research directions include the development of next-generation antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems, smart traceability solutions, and advanced detection platforms for foodborne hazards. Their laboratory utilizes cutting-edge instrumentation for molecular analysis, microfluidics development, and food microbiology studies.