Advisory Board
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Ben Chapman
Dr. Ben Chapman leads the Department of Agricultural & Human Sciences at North Carolina State University, where he also directs Safe Plates, a flagship extension and research program translating cutting-edge food-safety science into practical guidance for consumers and industry alike. An internationally recognized risk-communication specialist, Chapman has advised the USDA, co-chaired the nonprofit STOP Foodborne Illness, and co-hosts the popular podcasts Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not, demystifying pathogens for a global audience. His applied research—spanning norovirus epidemiology to retail produce safety—has produced 100+ peer-reviewed papers and informed national training curricula adopted by restaurant chains and state regulators.
Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus
Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emerita at North Carolina State University and one of the world's foremost authorities on food virology. She conceived and directed NoroCORE, the seven-year, $25 million USDA-NIFA collaborative that united 30+ laboratories to curb norovirus—the leading cause of gastroenteritis. Jaykus has authored more than 200 scientific publications, mentored over 60 young scientists, and served on National Academies food-safety committees as well as the U.S. National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. Elected President of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) in 2010-11, she is widely quoted by Food Safety Magazine and mainstream media for her insight on viral outbreaks.
Dr. Rebecca Goulter
Dr. Rebecca Goulter is a Research Scholar in North Carolina State University's Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences and was Associate Director of Scientific Affairs for NoroCORE, where she managed multi-institutional projects aimed at rapid detection and control of human norovirus. Armed with a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Australia's University of Queensland, Goulter specializes in molecular diagnostics and virus–host interactions, publishing on PCR-based detection and gut-microbiota dynamics. She bridges bench science with public outreach, spearheading social-media campaigns that translate complex virology into actionable hygiene tips followed by thousands.