Academics

Food scientist Kovac receives young investigator award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jasna Kovac, assistant professor of food science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was named recipient of the Institut Merieux Young Investigator Award in Antimicrobial Resistance from the International Association for Food Protection.  

Kovac, Lester Earl and Veronica Casida Career Development Professor of Food Safety, will receive the award, which includes a plaque and payment in excess of $10,000 to support her research, at the group's annual meeting July 24 in Louisville, Kentucky. The association said it selected Kovac for the award based on her outstanding ability and professional promise as a researcher in food microbiology/food safety, focusing on antimicrobial resistance.  

Kovac's long-term research goals are focused on generating new fundamental and applied knowledge related to mechanisms that govern the evolution, dissemination and persistence of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.

"We are in the midst of a global antimicrobial resistance crisis that requires cross-cutting, interdisciplinary research to allow for the development of effective antimicrobial-resistance mitigation strategies," she said. "This award will help support my further research in this area." 

Last Updated April 25, 2019