Tamra N. TolenTexas A&M University | Graduate Student308 Kleberg Center 2471 TAMUCollege Station, TX 77843ttolen84@gmail.com

O B J E C T I V E SSTEC CAP Objective: 3: Antimicrobial Interventions for Beef

M A J O R P R O F E S S O RDr. Matthew Taylor

S H O R T B I O

Tamra N. Tolen, student at Texas A&M University and native of Sugar Land, Texas, is collaborating with Dr. Matthew Taylor on bacteriophage biocontrol of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli on beef carcass surfaces. Tamra states “my interest in food safety started to pick up speed while conducting research for my M.S. degree. Identifying a proposed method of control against a known pathogen of concern in food products has allowed me to gain so much knowledge in food safety research. I feel that research and validation of products that would aid in food safety is integral in food safety and the development of treatments to food commodities that reduce pathogens that would cause harm to consumers.”

Start Date: 08/2013Finish Date: to present

R E S E A R C H O B J E C T I V E SBacter iophage B iocontro l o f Shiga Toxin Producing E. col i spp. on Beef Carcass Surfaces.Objectives:

Determine if the application of commercial phage-

Tamra N. Tolen

containing food safety intervention applied using electrostatic or conventional spray reduces Shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC) loads on beef carcasses during refrigerated vacuum aging.

Determine the ability of a commercial phage-based food safety intervention to improve beef safety.

P U B L I C AT I O N STolen, T. N., Xie, Y., Hernandez, A. C., & Everett, G. F. K. (2015). Complete genome sequence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium myophage Mushroom. Genome announcements, 3(2), e00154-15.

A D D I T I O N A L A W A R D S / A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S• Sloan Program for Exemplary Mentoring for Success in Research and Leadership Community (2013-2015)Tamra was awarded a fellowship through the Sloan PEM leadership community to fund two years of her graduate (Ph.D.) program.

• International Food Technology (IFT) Food Microbiology Division Student Representative (2015)

Tamra in 2015 became the Student Representative of the Food Microbiology Division (FMD) Leadership Team. Her responsibilities include the planning of the Division Mixer during the IFT Annual Meeting, as well as the division silent auction that takes place during the Division Mixer. She also participates in posting food microbiology-related information to the IFT Online Community Discussion Board to help inform division members of new information and ongoings in food microbiology.

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