Kathryn Boor, Cornell's Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has won an international award for her research on dairy microbiology and food safety.

Boor is the 2011 recipient of the International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing. The American Dairy Science Association presented the award July 12 at its annual meeting in New Orleans.

Her research focuses on identifying and characterizing mechanisms that allow pathogenic and spoilage organisms to persist in foods and cause disease in humans. Her research accomplishments in tracking bacterial contaminants in food processing systems also have been used to generate focused educational opportunities for the dairy industry.

Boor, a professor of food science, serves as the secretary and scientific adviser of the New York State Cheese Manufacturers' Association. She also is a past president of the New York State Association for Food Protection and a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Food Protection and Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

The award recognizes individuals whose research findings have allowed dairy food processors to develop new products, and to make a significant improvement in the quality, safety or processing efficiency of dairy foods. Particular attention is paid to the long‐term importance of the research application.

The American Dairy Science Association provides leadership in scientific and technical support to sustain and grow the global dairy industry through generation, dissemination and exchange of information and services.