Auburn University Detection and Food Safety Center
Food safety is a national priority that affects every man, woman and child. As many as 48 million Americans become ill annually due to foodborne pathogens and toxins. AUDFS works to improve the safety of the U.S. food system by developing the science and engineering required to rapidly identify, pinpoint and characterize problems that arise in the food supply chain through the integration of sensor and information systems technology.
Center research is funded through several funding streams, including special university funding through the Peaks of Excellence program, federal agencies (including USDA, FDA and NSF), and food-related industries in the form of sponsored projects and industrial participation.
AUDFS efforts to increase food safety and detection are focused primarily on biomolecular recognition and detection devices. Some of the many technologies AUDFS is researching include RNA-based biosensors for pathogen detection, air sampling for E. coli detection on spinach leaves, and chemical sensing strategies based on molecularly imprinted polymers.
Materials Research and Education Center
The Materials Research and Education Center (MREC), established in 1993, consistently attracts national and international materials-related research projects. Confidence in the Auburn University MREC’s research capabilities and expertise among faculty members keep the program on the cutting edge of research in many areas. Projects range in variety based on project sponsor and purpose. The center attracts and oversees more than $3 million in annual projects. The projects utilize the expertise among the materials engineering faculty, and when appropriate, the knowledge and experience available in various other Auburn University departments and colleges.
Current research areas through MREC include Adaptive Materials, High-Temperature Materials, Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, and the Processing and Fabrication of Materials.
Recent Research News
Pettus named executive director of Auburn University Applied Research Institute in Huntsville
1/28/25 3:30 PM
Auburn University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development has hired Jonathan Pettus as executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute (AUARI) in Huntsville, effective February 1.
Auburn materials engineering students have MXene research down to a fine art
1/10/25 9:00 AM
At this rate, Auburn may need to open its own "NanoArt" museum. Because the Department of Materials Engineering just keeps churning out masterpieces.
#GINNing Podcast: Mr. Materials
12/20/24 8:00 AM
He may work inside Wilmore Laboratories , but materials engineering program chair Bart Prorok does his thinking outside the box.
Materials engineering chair honored for wide-ranging work in experimental mechanics
11/14/24 2:30 PM
Much of Bart Prorok's work in experimental mechanics is focused on micro and nanoscale mechanisms. But there's nothing small about his most recent achievement in the field.
Auburn Engineering secures record $117.7 million in new research awards and contracts for FY24
11/11/24 7:00 AM
The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has set a college record for new research awards and contracts for a fiscal year, closing FY24 with $117.7 million.
Auburn Makersfest submissions due Oct. 18
10/8/24 3:00 PM
Auburn Makersfest 2024 is offering $2,000 in prize money to any Auburn student who has developed a product, written a song, or composed a poem – anything that was created – during a competition meant to stimulate creative thinking.
