-
Directory Profile for Aeriel Belk-Rudar
- AgriLife Research Assistant Professor, Food & Meat Science
- Office:
- Kleberg 410F
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 979-314-8074
Education
- Undergraduate Education
- B.S. Animal Science, Colorado State University
- Graduate Education
- M.S. Meat Science, Texas A&M University
- Ph.D. Meat Science and Microbiology, Colorado State University
Professional Summary
Dr. Aeriel Belk-Rudar is a Research Assistant Professor of Meat Science and Food Safety the Department of Animal Science. She is also affiliated with the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA). Dr. Belk-Rudar earned her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Animal Sciences, her master’s degree from Texas A&M Animal Sciences with certificates in meat science and food safety, and her PhD from Colorado State University focusing on the microbiome of meat and decomposition. She also served as a postdoctoral research in the Center for Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Maryland and as faculty at Auburn University before returning to Texas A&M in 2026.
Dr. Belk-Rudar’s research focuses on the relationships between microbial ecology and pathogen survival in meat and food systems. Her current work involves investigating the connections between the biofilm microbiome of meat processing facilities and Listeria prevalence as well as investigating the role of microbial community dynamics in meat spoilage and shelf-life extension. She is dedicated to training graduate students to be future leaders in food safety research and providing opportunities for student and public engagement in food protection. In her free time she also enjoys reading, embroidering, and hanging out with her dog Lacy (a native of college station!).