Claire Zoellner, Ph.D.

cez23@cornell.edu | mobile: +1 815 531 2968

www.linkedin.com/in/claire-zoellner
twitter: @c_zoellner

EDUCATION
Ph.D. Food Science and Technology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY USA. GPA: 3.85/4.3
USDA National Needs Fellow
—Dissertation: Microbial dynamics of the postharvest supply chain of fresh produce, observational study and
simulation model framework
—Committee: Randy Worobo (Chair), Yrjö Gröhn (Epidemiology), Peter Jackson (Systems Engineering)

B.S. Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Champaign IL USA. GPA: 3.84/4.0

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Appointments held:
2016-2018 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept. Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY
(Renata Ivanek and Martin Wiedmann, Project: Development of mathematical models that can be used
to develop environmental sampling programs for Listeria and assess L. monocytogenes-associated public
health risks in the frozen food industry, Funding: Frozen Food Foundation)
• Develop agent-based model of Listeria spp. transmission in food processing facilities (“EnABLe”)
• Conduct scoping review of current literature regarding Listeria environmental monitoring
• Create searchable database of Listeria environmental monitoring resources
• Develop QMRA tool to quantify risk of illness due to Listeria contamination in production lots of
frozen vegetables

2012-2016 Doctoral Candidate, Dept. Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

(Randy Worobo, Yrjö Gröhn, and Peter Jackson, USDA National Needs Fellow in International Food
Safety, Project: Simulating microbial dynamics of the postharvest supply chain of fresh produce)
• Develop generic deterministic mathematical model of microbial behavior in a food supply chain
• Program model using JavaScript and HTML into a working simulation website tool
• Estimate model parameters for microbial contamination on tomatoes from existing literature

2015 Visiting Researcher, Dept. Biological Sciences, University of Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
(Santos García and Norma Heredia, Project: Monitoring indicator microorganisms in the supply chain
of fresh tomatoes from Mexico to the USA)
• Sample fresh tomato supply chain between Nuevo Leon, Mexico and supermarkets in the USA
• Quantify indicators on tomatoes: aerobic mesophiles, yeasts/molds, coliforms, generic E. coli
• Analysis of variance to compare mean of populations at four locations along supply chain
• Identify risk factors for contamination using mixed linear models and logistic regression
• Compare food safety practices, standards and regulations between Mexico and USA

2013 Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Food Science, NY Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY
(Randy Worobo and Syed Rizvi, Project: Supercritical carbon dioxide disinfection of alfalfa sprout
seeds)
• Determine efficacy of supercritical carbon dioxide and peracetic acid to decontaminate E. coli-
inoculated alfalfa seeds

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INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

09/2018- iFoodDecisionSciences, Food Safety Scientist, Data Services Dept.

present • Manage research, inform, and advise management and stakeholders on food safety policies,
programs, products
• Lead new software development and implementation relevant to fresh produce quality and safety
• Identify and understand food safety problems through quantitative reporting and statistical analysis
• Commercialize and scale research in predictive food safety tools (“EnABLe”) for the food industry
• Lead services to develop, improve, and/or validate Listeria control programs in processing facilities

07-09/ Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., Farm Food Safety Intern, Dept. of Quality and Food Safety
2016 • Communicate food safety practices to Wegmans’ Organic Farm employees
• Assess Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance and sanitary design of sprouting ops

05-08/ Hormel Foods Corporation, Research and Development Intern, Fresh Pork Division
2011 • Work with marketing, operations and suppliers on line extension for refrigerated meat product
• Assist QA manager to collect carcass and product temperatures after chilled storage and fabrication
• Assist graduate student collect liver, muscle and back fat samples from pork carcasses after slaughter

06-08/ Gilster Mary-Lee, Corp., Research and Development Intern

2010 • Reformulate products, conduct shelf life studies, process QA samples, customer cuttings
• Shadow nutritionist in making carton documents and label specifications

TEACHING AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCE

2016 Teaching Assistant and tutor, English Language Support Office, Cornell University
WRIT 6200: Improving Pronunciation (graduate and professional students)

2016 Guest Lecturer, Geneva High School, Geneva, NY

“The Food System and Related Policies” for AP U.S. Government and Politics

2013-2015 Extension Assistant, Produce Safety Alliance, Cornell University

Good Agricultural Practices trainings, FSMA Pilot Train-the-trainer and data collection

2013-2015 Extension Assistant, Dept. of Food Science, Cornell University

Juice HACCP trainings

2012 Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Food Science, Cornell University

FDSC 4210: Food Engineering Principles (undergraduate and graduate)

PUBLICATIONS

1. Zoellner, C., Wiedmann, M., & Ivanek, R. An assessment of listeriosis risk associated with a contaminated
production lot of frozen vegetables consumed under alternative consumer handling scenarios. (accepted
9/2/2019, JFP-19-092).

2. Zoellner, C., Jennings, R., Wiedmann, M., & Ivanek, R. EnABLe: An agent-based model of Listeria
dynamics in food processing facilities. Sci Rep – UK 9:495. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36654-z
(2019).

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 3. Zoellner, C., Jackson, P., Al-Mamun, M.A., Grohn, Y.T., & Worobo, R.W. Post-harvest Supply Chain with
Microbial Travelers: A farm-to-retail microbial simulation and visualization framework. Appl Environ
Microb, 84(17): e00813-18. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00813-18 (2018).

4. Zoellner, C., Ceres, K., Ghezzi-Kopel, K., Wiedmann, M., & Ivanek, R. Design elements of Listeria
environmental monitoring programs in food processing facilities: A scoping review of research and
guidance materials. Compr Rev Food Sci F 17:1156-1172. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12366 (2018).

5. Zoellner, C., Venegas, F., Churey, J., Dávila-Aviña, J., Grohn, Y.T., Garcia, S., Heredia, N., & Worobo, R.
Microbial dynamics of indicator microorganisms on fresh tomatoes in the supply chain from Mexico to the
USA. Int J Food Micro, 238:202-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2016.09.013 (2016).

6. Sikin, A.M., Zoellner, C., & Rizvi, S.S.H. Current intervention strategies for the microbial safety of sprouts.
J Food Prot, 76(12):2099-2123 (2013).

BOOK CHAPTERS

1. García Heredia, A., Dávila-Aviña, J.E., Zoellner, C., Garcia-Amezquita, L.E., Heredia, N., & García, S.
Essential oils and plant extracts as natural antimicrobial agents. In Barman K, Sharma S, and Siddiqui MW
(Eds.) Emerging Postharvest Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables. Postharvest Biology and Technology Book
Series. Academic Press. ISBN: 9781771887007 (2019).

2. Dávila-Aviña, J.E., Zoellner, C., Solís-Soto, L., & Rojas-Verde, G. Economic and Environmental Benefits of
Utilizing Plant Food By-Products. In Ayala-Zavala, J.F., Gonzalez-Aguilar, G., Siddiqui, M.W. (Eds.) Plant
Food By-Products: Industrial Relevance for Food Additives and Nutraceuticals. Postharvest Biology and
Technology Book Series. CRC Press. ISBN: 9781771886406 (2018).

3. Zoellner, C., Siddiqui, M.W., Aguayo-Acosta, A., & Dávila-Aviña, J. Peracetic acid. In Siddiqui MW. (Ed.)
Postharvest Disinfection of Fruits and Vegetables. Academic Press. ISBN: 9780128126981 (2018).

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

1. “A novel agent-based model of Listeria spp. in a food processing facility.” M2-H.3 Oral Presentation. Dec
11, 2017. Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA.

2. “An Observational Study of the Post-Harvest Supply Chain of Fresh Produce in Mexico for Export to the
United States: Professional and Personal Reflections.” Panelist in Training Food Safety Experts for a Global
Economy Case Study: A Doctoral Training Program with Focus on International Food Safety. July 19, 2016.
Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

3. “Risk factors for prevalence and concentration of indicator microorganisms on fresh tomatoes in the
postharvest supply chain.” T5-10 Technical Presentation. Aug 1, 2016. International Association for Food
Protection Conference, St. Louis, MO.

4. “Quantifying microbial indicators of quality and safety on fresh tomatoes in the supply chain from the
farm in Mexico to supermarkets in USA: preliminary findings.” Oral Presentation (Spanish). Oct 16, 2015.
Inocuidad Alimentaria 2015, Puebla, Mexico.

5. “Quantifying microbial indicators of quality and safety on fresh tomatoes in the supply chain from the
farm in Mexico to supermarkets in USA: preliminary findings.” Poster. Oct 12, 2015. Cornell Food Systems
Global Summit, Ithaca, NY.

6. “Treatment of alfalfa sprout seeds contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 with supercritical carbon dioxide and

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 peracetic acid.” Poster. July 27, 2015. International Association for Food Protection Conference, Portland, OR.

INVITED TALKS

1. “Use of AI for Food Safety Aspects in the Retail and Food Service Sectors.” International Association for
Food Protection Annual Meeting. July 22, 2019. Louisville, KY.

2. “An Introduction on Listeria.” National Potato Council Meeting. April 24, 2019. Denver, CO.

3. “Models to improve Listeria environmental monitoring programs and to assess food safety risk due to
Listeria monocytogenes in frozen foods.” American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) Workshop. Feb 25, 2019. San
Diego, CA.

4. “Listeria monocytogenes Quantitative Risk Assessment Project Update.” AFFI Listeria Working Group
Meeting. Mar 5-6, 2018. Las Vegas, NV.

5. “Listeria guidance for the fresh produce industry.” YUM! Produce Meeting. Aug 27, 2017. Monterey, CA.

GRANTS

Dates Funding Group Project Title/Details Amount

4/1/2018- National Science Foundation Environmental monitoring with an Agent-Based model $25,000
9/30/2018 Innovation Corps (I-Corps) of Listeria (EnABLe) (PI: Renata Ivanek, Team Lead:
Program Claire Zoellner)

10/1/2018- Cornell College of Tool for monitoring and predicting nosocomial $49,999
9/30/2019 Veterinary Medicine pathogens in veterinary health-care settings (PI: Renata
Research Grants Program in Ivanek, Co-PIs: Gillian Perkins, Laura Goodman, Anil
Animal Health Thachil, Postdoc and co-author: Claire Zoellner)

1/1/2019- Center for Produce Safety Modeling tools for design of science-based Listeria $199,852
12/31/2019 environmental monitoring programs and corrective
action strategies (PI: Renata Ivanek, Co-PI: Martin
Wiedmann, Postdoc and co-author: Claire Zoellner)

CERTIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Food Safety:
• Good Agricultural Practices, Dec 2013
• Juice HACCP, May 2014
• FSMA Preventive Controls Qualified Individual,
Feb 2016
• Better Process Control School, May 2016
• FSMA Produce Safety Rule Qualified Trainer,
Sept 2016
Computation, statistics, and word processing:
• JavaScript, HTML, Vensim, Visual Basic, R,
NetLogo
• SAS, R
• Microsoft Office (Word, PPT, Excel, Teams)
Foreign Language:
English (native speaker), Spanish (fluent)
Leadership:
• IFT Emerging Leaders Network, 2019
• Postdoc Leadership Certificate Program, Cornell
University, Sept 2017-March 2018
Entrepreneurship:
• UNY I-Corps Short Course, Cornell University,
Oct-Nov 2017
• NSF National I-Corps Program, Indianapolis
Cohort, April-June 2018

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MENTORING AND ADVISING

• Dept. of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University

Ceres, K. (2017). Scoping review of research and guidance on Listeria monocytogenes in the food processing
environment. Co-mentoring with Dr. Ivanek.
• Dept. of Food Science, Cornell University
Hipsher, K. (2016). Isolation and characterization of microbial spoilage organisms on fresh and processed
strawberries. Co-advising with Abigail Snyder.

AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS AND HONORS

• IFT Emerging Leaders Network Award Winner. 2019.

• Phi Tau Sigma (Honor Society of Food Science and Technology) Founders’ Award. 2019.
• Travel Award, Center for Produce Safety Research Symposium. 2018.
• Young Professional Travel Award, Society for Risk Analysis. 2017.
• Student Travel Scholarship, International Association for Food Protection. 2016.
• Downing Graduate Student Excellence Award, Dept. of Food Science, Cornell University. 2014, 2016.
• Western New York IFT Graduate Scholarship. 2016.
• 3rd Place Student Poster Competition, Cornell Institute for Food Systems Global Summit. 2015.
• Research Travel Award, Cornell University Graduate School. 2015.
• Daryl B. Lund International Travel Scholarship, Phi Tau Sigma. 2015.
• IFT Food Microbiology Division Student Scholarship. 2015.
• USDA National Needs Doctoral Fellow for International Food Safety. 2013-2016.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND MEMBERSHIP

• Associate Editor, Newsletter Committee, Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society. 2014-present.
• Director, Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society. 2015-present.
• Incoming Chair, Student Relations Committee, Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society. 2018-2019.
• Abstract Reviewer, ASM Microbe 2019.
• Communications Chair, Organizing Committee, Biological and Biomedical Sciences Symposium, Cornell
University. 2017.
• Member: Institute of Food Technologists, International Association for Food Protection, Phi Tau Sigma Honor
Society

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