Dr. Ricke received his B.S. degree in Animal Science (1979) an M.S. degree in Ruminant Nutrition (1982) from the Univ. of Illinois and his Ph.D. degree (1989) from the Univ. of Wisconsin with a co-major in Animal Science and Bacteriology. From 1989 to 1992 Dr. Ricke was a USDA-ARS postdoctorate in the Microbiology Department at North Carolina State Univ. He was at Texas A&M Univ. for 13 years and was a professor in the Poultry Science Dept. with joint appointments on the Food Science and Technology, Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, and Nutrition Faculties and the Veterinary Pathobiology Dept. He has been honored in 2002 as a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Faculty Fellow. In 2005, he became the first holder of the new Wray Endowed Chair in Food Safety and Director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Arkansas. He is also a faculty member of the Dept. of Food Science and the Cellular and Molecular Graduate program. Dr. Griffiths G. Atungulu is the Director of The University of Arkansas Rice Processing Program and Asst. Professor of Grain Process Engineering. He holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees all in the field of agricultural engineering. He has worked on various aspects of biological and agricultural engineering, especially as related to food processing and post-harvest systems engineering. At present, he directs research, teaching, and an outreach program that is focused on engineering and optimization of classical and innovative processing technologies to secure grain processing efficiency, automated quality monitoring and processing control, improved quality and shelf-life, and mitigation of mycotoxin formation. His rice research spans the areas of drying, chilling, aeration, milling, storage, and value-added processing. Research conducted has utilized lab- and field-based experiments, computerized mathematical modeling, and simulations tools to generate results and conclusions that advance science and positively impact the food, feed, and pet-food industries.

Dr. Ricke received his B.S. degree in Animal Science (1979) an M.S. degree in Ruminant Nutrition (1982) from the Univ. of Illinois and his Ph.D. degree (1989) from the Univ. of Wisconsin with a co-major in Animal Science and Bacteriology. From 1989 to 1992 Dr. Ricke was a USDA-ARS postdoctorate in the Microbiology Department at North Carolina State Univ. He was at Texas A&M Univ. for 13 years and was a professor in the Poultry Science Dept. with joint appointments on the Food Science and Technology, Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, and Nutrition Faculties and the Veterinary Pathobiology Dept. He has been honored in 2002 as a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Faculty Fellow. In 2005, he became the first holder of the new Wray Endowed Chair in Food Safety and Director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Arkansas. He is also a faculty member of the Dept. of Food Science and the Cellular and Molecular Graduate program. Dr. Griffiths G. Atungulu is the Director of The University of Arkansas Rice Processing Program and Asst. Professor of Grain Process Engineering. He holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees all in the field of agricultural engineering. He has worked on various aspects of biological and agricultural engineering, especially as related to food processing and post-harvest systems engineering. At present, he directs research, teaching, and an outreach program that is focused on engineering and optimization of classical and innovative processing technologies to secure grain processing efficiency, automated quality monitoring and processing control, improved quality and shelf-life, and mitigation of mycotoxin formation. His rice research spans the areas of drying, chilling, aeration, milling, storage, and value-added processing. Research conducted has utilized lab- and field-based experiments, computerized mathematical modeling, and simulations tools to generate results and conclusions that advance science and positively impact the food, feed, and pet-food industries.