Nugen Research Group

Sam R. Nugen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
246 Chenoweth Labs
Department of Food Science
Amherst, MA 01003
P: (413) 545-1025
F: (413) 545-1262
snugen@foodsci.umass.edu

Welcome to the Nugen Research Group at UMass Amherst

The NRG, led by Professor Sam Nugen, is located in Chenoweth Hall in the Department of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Our research focuses on the design and fabrication of biosensors for the detection of pathogenic organisms, allergens, adulterants and other analytes of interest. We are currently designing inexpensive micro total analysis systems (µTAS) which will permit rapid on-site screening for food pathogens and toxins. Such “Lab on a Chip” devices, in combination with traditional benchtop detection methods, could reduce product recalls and foodborne outbreaks while paving the way for research into novel processes and improvements in efficiency and yield. The nature of our research is highly interdisciplinary, merging technologies from the fields of nanobiotechnology, microfabrication, molecular genetics, biochemistry, and material science.

Positions Available

We are currently fully staffed, but please check back for openings.

Sam Nugen Bio

Professor Nugen was previously a post-doctoral associate in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. After earning B.S. degrees in Animal Science and Food Science from University of Vermont, Sam completed an M.S. in Food Engineering under the guidance of Prof. Steve Mulvaney. From 1999 to 2003, Sam worked as a Research Engineer at Kraft Foods in Tarrytown, NY. In 2003, Sam returned to Cornell to complete his PhD working in Prof. Antje Baeumner's Biosensors & Bioanalytical Microsystems Lab.

Contact

For more information about our research, please contact:

Sam R. Nugen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Food Science
102 Holdsworth Way
246 Chenoweth Laboratory
Amherst, MA 01003
P:(413) 545-1025
F:(413) 545-1262
snugen@foodsci.umass.edu

	Bacterial Separation from Complex Foods Rapid detection relies on the ability to rapidly remove anayltes from the food matrix. We are investigating a variety of methods to separates bacteria from food to enable rapid detection.
	Portable Detection The ability to bring detection technologies to the field allows advanced testing of food and environmental samples.
	Diagnostics for Low-Resource Settings Some assays such as those conducted on farms need to be designed whith limitations in mind.