Dr. Kalmia (Kali) Kniel is Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Delaware (UD). She holds a Masters degree in molecular cell biology and a PhD in Food Science and Technology focused on microbiology of foodborne pathogens. Her teaching responsibilities include courses on foodborne disease, food microbiology, food systems and security. Dr. Kniel’s research includes understanding mechanisms of environmental persistence by bacteria, protozoa, and viruses in pre-harvest agricultural environments. Dr. Kniel directs the Center for Environmental and Wastewater Epidemiological Research. Dr. Kniel is co-author on the textbook, Food Microbiology: An Introduction, more than 120 scientific publications, and more than 225 published abstracts for presentations. In 2015 she was awarded the UD Outstanding Teaching and Advising Award and the Elmer Marth Outstanding Educator award by the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). In 2020 she was awarded the UD Outstanding Researcher Award. In 2022 she was awarded the IAFP Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award for distinguished laboratory contributions. Dr. Kniel is active with Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and IAFP, where she was elected to the board in 2015 and served as IAFP President in 2020.