Gabriela Lopez-Velasco

Gabriela Lopez-Velasco is a Senior R&D Microbiologist Research Scientist at Neogen Corporation since September 2022, specializing in microbial diagnostics for food and environmental testing applications. Responsibilities include leading product development projects, managing resources, and validating method performance for new products. Previously, Gabriela served as a USAC Regional Advanced Technical Applications Specialist focusing on food safety diagnostics and method verification. Prior experience includes roles at 3M as an Advanced Global Technical Applications Specialist and Senior Microbiologist, and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at UC Davis, emphasizing rapid detection techniques for food-borne pathogens. Gabriela holds a PhD in Food Science and Technology from Virginia Tech, a Master of Science in Biochemistry from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and a degree in Food Chemistry from the same institution. In addition to research roles, Gabriela has experience as an Assistant Professor in Nutrition, developing educational materials for students.