Steven Ricke

Director & Professor

Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
2124 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
sricke@wisc.edu
608.262.0875

Interests: Growth, survival, and pathogenesis of foodborne pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and their interactions with the GIT microbiota; Interaction between different prebiotics, the GIT microbiota, and host responses including host immune responses; Pathogen detection and biosensors, especially in poultry; Salmonella in foods and the environment; Salmonella and acid stress.

Jim Claus
Professor
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
2120 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
jrclausjr@wisc.edu
608.262.0875

Interests: Improvement in meat tenderness; Muscle pigment chemistry as related to color in fresh and processed meat and poultry; Technology for the development of low-fat processed meats; Textural defects in sectioned and formed poultry products; Meat Processing in terms of lipid oxidation, salt reduction, and protein functionality; Immobilization methods: electrical stun vs CO2 stun; Vascular rinsing of carcasses for modulation of glycolysis with metabolites and with antimicrobials for Salmonella reduction (Lymph nodes); Light display studies; shockwave tenderization; antioxidant effect of encapsulated phosphate.

Wei Guo
Meet Dr. Guo
Assistant Professor
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
2112 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
wguo2@wisc.edu
608.263.3676

Interests: Muscle structure and function; Understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms of muscle growth, development, regeneration and associated diseases for meat production and quality; Discovering new value of animal components benefiting animal and human health, such as a treatment for heart muscle diseases; Efficacy of feed and growth performance.

Vanessa Leone

Meet Dr. Leone
Assistant Professor
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
2118 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
valeone@wisc.edu

Interests: Identifying value-added molecules or materials derived from animal co-products, including microbes & microbially-derived metabolites, that can be used both in biomedical and animal agriculture to improve health and wellness; Novel uses for meat co-products.

Max Sell

Retail Operations Manager

Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
1124 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
amsell2@wisc.edu
608.262.7801

Interests: Customer service and experience; Product quality; Retail development.

Laurie Sand
Lab Manager
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
2110 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
lacolson@wisc.edu

Krysta Michalek

Animal Science Meat Technician

Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
1126 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
kamichalek@wisc.edu
 

Mark Richards
Professor
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
2116 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
mprichards@ansci.wisc.edu
608.262.1792

Interests: Role of lipid oxidation in the quality of muscle foods; understanding and quantifying the mechanisms of lipid oxidation in food systems, including the role changes in diet, formulation, or manufacturing procedures play; the role of hemoglobins & myoglobins; Investigate molecular basis of discoloration and off-flavor formation; Explore antioxidant mechanisms for novel strategies in meat and fish, such as rosemary extract carriers.

Jeff Sindelar
Professor, Meat Science Extension
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
2108 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
jsindelar@wisc.edu
608.262.0555

Interests: Quality, safety, and sensory characteristics of processed meats; Assisting meat processors in product development, problem solving & regulatory compliance; Intervention strategies to control pathogenic bacteria in meat products; Food safety in thermal processing; Alternative curing safety and quality; Serving as a liaison between academia, government & meat industry; Non-meat ingredient functionality in meat products and sodium reduction.

Dillon Walker
Meat Plant Operations Manager
Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences
1126 Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
dlwalker5@wisc.edu
608.262.1793

Interests: The production of safe, wholesome, high-quality meats for consumption.

Adjunct Professors

Andrew Milkowski

Dennis Seman

Retirees & Emeriti

Lou Arrington

Robert Cassens

Marion Greaser

Robert Kauffman

Ron Russell