xlvi ◾ Authors
Microbiology. He also served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Food Protection, Applied and
Environmental Microbiology, and the Indian Journal of Microbiology. In 1994, Professor Ray was
awarded the University of Wyoming Presidential Achievement Award in recognition of his excellence in academic performance. He retired from the University of Wyoming in September 2002.
Since then, he and his wife, Purnima, have built a center (Google “Bibek Ray” or “Gohaldanga
Sevakendra”) and together are engaged in improving the health, education, and economic conditions of underprivileged poor people in deep rural villages, about 100 miles from Calcutta, India,
and spends a great deal of time with Purnima in the village of his birth every year.
Arun K. Bhunia, BVSc, PhD, is a professor of molecular food microbiology in the Department
of Food Science and also in the Department of Veterinary Comparative Pathobiology (Courtesy)
at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Professor Bhunia received his bachelor of veterinary medicine degree (1984) from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya (currently West
Bengal University of Fisheries and Animal Sciences), West Bengal, India. He received his PhD
(1989) from the University of Wyoming (USA) under the mentorship of Professor Bibek Ray and
postdoctoral training (1995) from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, under the mentorship
of Prof. Michael G. Johnson and then joined Alabama A&M University (Normal, Alabama) as
an assistant professor in 1995. In 1998, he joined the Department of Food Science at Purdue
University. He teaches three graduate level courses: Microbial Foodborne Pathogens (major topics:
Mechanism of pathogenesis of foodborne pathogens and toxins and the host-parasite interactions);
Microbial Techniques for Food Pathogen (a laboratory course that incorporates rapid methods
employing immunoassays and genetic and biosensor tools), and codirects a graduate level journal
club, Intestinal Microbiology and Immunology. In addition, he routinely lectures in courses such
as Principles of Public Health (both undergraduate and graduate levels) on foodborne diseases,
and Veterinary Microbiology and Mycology on several foodborne pathogens. Professor Bhunia’s
laboratory maintains a balanced research program (basic and applied) to address problems related
to foodborne pathogens in the following areas: (a) pathogen and toxin detection; (b) understanding the mechanism of pathogenesis of enteric pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes; and (c)
application of bioengineered probiotics and natural antimicrobial peptides coupled with nanotechnology to control pathogens. His research has been funded by grants from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, National
Institute of Health, and Center for Food Safety Engineering.
To date, Professor Bhunia has published 132 refereed and 33 proceedings articles, 137 research
abstracts, written 15 book chapters, and delivered over 90 invited presentations in national and
international meetings or institutions. He has also written a graduate level textbook (Microbial
Foodborne Pathogens: Mechanisms and Pathogenesis. First Edition, 2008, Springer, New York),
coedited two books (Foodborne Pathogens: Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2005; Caister
Academic Press, and The Science of Homeland Security, 2006, Purdue University Press).
He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Institute of Food
Technologists (IFT), and International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) and was
a past member of the Society for Photo Optical Engineers and American Association for the
Advancement of Science, and he currently serves as a member of the National Advisory Committee
on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF: 2013–2015); editor-in-chief of Open Journal
of Medical Microbiology (SR Publishing), and Open Journal of Applied Biosensor (SR Publishing);
editor for Gut Pathogens (2010–present); Journal of Nutrition and Food Science (2010–present);
Conference Papers in Microbiology (2012–present); Indian Journal of Microbiology (2008–2012); guest
editor for Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology (2012); “Food Biosensors and Food Safety”
Microbiology. He also served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Food Protection, Applied and
Environmental Microbiology, and the Indian Journal of Microbiology. In 1994, Professor Ray was
awarded the University of Wyoming Presidential Achievement Award in recognition of his excellence in academic performance. He retired from the University of Wyoming in September 2002.
Since then, he and his wife, Purnima, have built a center (Google “Bibek Ray” or “Gohaldanga
Sevakendra”) and together are engaged in improving the health, education, and economic conditions of underprivileged poor people in deep rural villages, about 100 miles from Calcutta, India,
and spends a great deal of time with Purnima in the village of his birth every year.
Arun K. Bhunia, BVSc, PhD, is a professor of molecular food microbiology in the Department
of Food Science and also in the Department of Veterinary Comparative Pathobiology (Courtesy)
at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Professor Bhunia received his bachelor of veterinary medicine degree (1984) from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya (currently West
Bengal University of Fisheries and Animal Sciences), West Bengal, India. He received his PhD
(1989) from the University of Wyoming (USA) under the mentorship of Professor Bibek Ray and
postdoctoral training (1995) from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, under the mentorship
of Prof. Michael G. Johnson and then joined Alabama A&M University (Normal, Alabama) as
an assistant professor in 1995. In 1998, he joined the Department of Food Science at Purdue
University. He teaches three graduate level courses: Microbial Foodborne Pathogens (major topics:
Mechanism of pathogenesis of foodborne pathogens and toxins and the host-parasite interactions);
Microbial Techniques for Food Pathogen (a laboratory course that incorporates rapid methods
employing immunoassays and genetic and biosensor tools), and codirects a graduate level journal
club, Intestinal Microbiology and Immunology. In addition, he routinely lectures in courses such
as Principles of Public Health (both undergraduate and graduate levels) on foodborne diseases,
and Veterinary Microbiology and Mycology on several foodborne pathogens. Professor Bhunia’s
laboratory maintains a balanced research program (basic and applied) to address problems related
to foodborne pathogens in the following areas: (a) pathogen and toxin detection; (b) understanding the mechanism of pathogenesis of enteric pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes; and (c)
application of bioengineered probiotics and natural antimicrobial peptides coupled with nanotechnology to control pathogens. His research has been funded by grants from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, National
Institute of Health, and Center for Food Safety Engineering.
To date, Professor Bhunia has published 132 refereed and 33 proceedings articles, 137 research
abstracts, written 15 book chapters, and delivered over 90 invited presentations in national and
international meetings or institutions. He has also written a graduate level textbook (Microbial
Foodborne Pathogens: Mechanisms and Pathogenesis. First Edition, 2008, Springer, New York),
coedited two books (Foodborne Pathogens: Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2005; Caister
Academic Press, and The Science of Homeland Security, 2006, Purdue University Press).
He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Institute of Food
Technologists (IFT), and International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) and was
a past member of the Society for Photo Optical Engineers and American Association for the
Advancement of Science, and he currently serves as a member of the National Advisory Committee
on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF: 2013–2015); editor-in-chief of Open Journal
of Medical Microbiology (SR Publishing), and Open Journal of Applied Biosensor (SR Publishing);
editor for Gut Pathogens (2010–present); Journal of Nutrition and Food Science (2010–present);
Conference Papers in Microbiology (2012–present); Indian Journal of Microbiology (2008–2012); guest
editor for Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology (2012); “Food Biosensors and Food Safety”