Dr. Byron Chaves joined the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University in March 2026 as an Associate Extension Specialist. His program integrates Extension, applied research, and teaching to develop practical, science-based solutions that strengthen food safety systems and support the food industry, regulatory agencies, and public health professionals.

His research focuses on understanding the growth, survival, inactivation, and transmission of foodborne pathogens to improve food safety decision-making and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Dr. Chaves works closely with industry, government, and academic partners to translate science into evidence-based training programs, decision-support tools, and applied solutions for emerging food safety challenges.

His contributions to food safety have been recognized through several national honors, including the 2025 Emerging Leader in Food Safety Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) and the 2024 James M. Jay Food Safety Award from the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). Byron is a native of Costa Rica and earned his PhD from Texas Tech University. Prior to joining Rutgers, he was an Assistant/Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.