Andrea Etter

Assistant Professor

Andrea Etter
Alma mater(s)
  • Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Purdue University
  • B.S., Biology, Maranatha Baptist University
Affiliated Department(s)
  • Department of Animal and Veterinary Science
  • Animal Biosciences PhD program
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology PhD program
  • Food Systems PhD program
  • Gund Institute for Environment

Area(s) of expertise

  • Food Safety (bacteria)
  • Microbiology
  • Homesteading Biosecurity
  • Foodborne Outbreaks
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella enterica
  • Backyard Poultry
  • Bacterial Stress Tolerance
  • Risk Communication

BIO

Dr. Andrea Etter is an assistant professor in the department of Nutrition and Food Sciences where she works on understanding the factors that lead to foodborne outbreaks, both from the bacterial and human angles. Drawing on her experience of homesteading in rural WI as a child, Andrea is particularly interested in the biosecurity risks associated with homesteading and backyard farming, and in improving outreach and education to this under-reached group.

Andrea Etter grew up on a homestead in rural Wisconsin, fascinated with animal husbandry, comparative animal anatomy, fiber arts, horseback riding, drawing, and all things science. She earned her BS in Biology from Maranatha Baptist University, followed by her PhD in Food Microbiology from Purdue University. Dr. Etter’s doctoral research focused on understanding Listeria monocytogenes colonization of grocery store delis, and on whether bacterial stress tolerance played a role in a large outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg in poultry products.  

Dr. Etter currently studies understanding how common Salmonella is in backyard laying hens and hatchling chicks and what owners know about biosecurity and best practices to avoid catching Salmonella from their birds. Determining the importance of sanitizer tolerance and biofilm formation capability to Listeria monocytogenes colonization of Vermont dairies and cheesemaking facilities. Understanding whether bacterial stress tolerance is a key contributing factor to foodborne outbreaks of Salmonella enterica

She enjoys mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers in research, especially inviting and encouraging participation of students from under-represented backgrounds. 

Courses

  • NFS 2156: Deadly Food: Outbreak Investigations
  • NFS 3203: Food Microbiology
  • NFS 3204: Food Microbiology Lab
  • NFS 3254/5254: Global Food Safety

Publications

Google Scholar

Awards and Achievements

USDA-NIFA AFRI Predoctoral Fellowship (2016-2018); J. Mac Goepfert Developing Scientist Awards: International Association for Food Protection Technical Talk Award (2017); University of Washington Scholarship to Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics (2013)

Bio

Dr. Andrea Etter is an assistant professor in the department of Nutrition and Food Sciences where she works on understanding the factors that lead to foodborne outbreaks, both from the bacterial and human angles. Drawing on her experience of homesteading in rural WI as a child, Andrea is particularly interested in the biosecurity risks associated with homesteading and backyard farming, and in improving outreach and education to this under-reached group.

Andrea Etter grew up on a homestead in rural Wisconsin, fascinated with animal husbandry, comparative animal anatomy, fiber arts, horseback riding, drawing, and all things science. She earned her BS in Biology from Maranatha Baptist University, followed by her PhD in Food Microbiology from Purdue University. Dr. Etter’s doctoral research focused on understanding Listeria monocytogenes colonization of grocery store delis, and on whether bacterial stress tolerance played a role in a large outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg in poultry products.  

Dr. Etter currently studies understanding how common Salmonella is in backyard laying hens and hatchling chicks and what owners know about biosecurity and best practices to avoid catching Salmonella from their birds. Determining the importance of sanitizer tolerance and biofilm formation capability to Listeria monocytogenes colonization of Vermont dairies and cheesemaking facilities. Understanding whether bacterial stress tolerance is a key contributing factor to foodborne outbreaks of Salmonella enterica

She enjoys mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers in research, especially inviting and encouraging participation of students from under-represented backgrounds. 

Courses

  • NFS 2156: Deadly Food: Outbreak Investigations
  • NFS 3203: Food Microbiology
  • NFS 3204: Food Microbiology Lab
  • NFS 3254/5254: Global Food Safety

Publications

Awards and Achievements

USDA-NIFA AFRI Predoctoral Fellowship (2016-2018); J. Mac Goepfert Developing Scientist Awards: International Association for Food Protection Technical Talk Award (2017); University of Washington Scholarship to Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics (2013)