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August 13, 2026
Zhang Lab · Mississippi State University
Advancing food safety through molecular innovation
We study the microbiomes of food production systems — developing rapid pathogen diagnostics, sequencing genomes, and building the science that keeps food safe from farm to table.
What We Do
Microbes shape food safety. We decode them.
Our laboratory integrates agricultural microbiomes, microbial genomics, and bioinformatics to develop practical solutions for pathogen detection, characterization, and control. We work at the intersection of fundamental microbiology and applied food safety — building tools and knowledge that directly benefit industry, regulatory agencies, and public health.
Research Programs
Six programs, one mission: safer food
Agricultural Microbiome
Culturomics and metagenomics to characterize microbial communities in food production systems — and to discover beneficial microbes.
Molecular Detection
Rapid, field-deployable diagnostics: LAMP assays, multiplex qPCR, and bioluminescent pathogen tracking.
Vaccine Development
Reverse vaccinology and host-pathogen interaction studies to stop foodborne pathogens at the source.
Genomics & Bioinformatics
High-throughput Oxford Nanopore pipelines and custom workflows for serotyping, MLST, and resistance profiling.
Pathogen Epidemiology
Surveillance and molecular epidemiology of Salmonella, Campylobacter, and pathogenic E. coli across production systems.
Pathogen Biofilms
How foodborne pathogens persist on processing surfaces — and science-based strategies to stop them.
In the Press
The lab in the media
Latest Updates
What’s growing in the lab
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By the Numbers
Research with reach
67+ Peer-reviewed publications
6 Research programs
18+ Student awards since 2019
500+ Pathogen isolates characterized
Our research is supported by USDA ARS, USDA NIFA, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, MAFES, and industry partners.
Join Us
Curious about microbes? So are we.
We welcome undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs who want to work on real problems in food safety with genomics, microbiology, and bioinformatics. No prior sequencing experience required — bring curiosity.