Govindaraj Dev Kumar (Govind) is an assistant professor at the University of Georgia’s- Center for Food Safety. His research focuses on mitigating fruit and vegetable contamination during cultivation and post-harvest handling. Govind has performed produce safety research in major produce producing regions across the United States and has a strong commitment towards scientific research and its communication with stakeholders. At the University of Georgia, Govind has developed interventions to mitigate the contamination of produce and food contact surfaces by Salmonella enterica, Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. He is involved with multi-state projects focused on improving the safety of agricultural commodities such as peaches, onions, leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli. His team studies bioaerosols and dust for their potential to serve as vehicles of foodborne pathogenic bacteria and is working towards validating biomarkers to aid in their detection. Govind has collaborated with growers in Yuma, Salinas valley, Delmarva peninsula, and Georgia in assessing pre-harvest contamination risks and validating post-harvest control measures to curb contamination. Govind’s research has complemented his commitment towards communication and outreach. Throughout his career he has contributed towards stakeholder education through talks and presentations at conventions, meetings, and conferences. The International Association of Food Protection provides its members with a global platform to further food safety research and education