Dr. Jaykus’s research is in food microbiology, with a specific interest in microbial food safety. She directs the USDA-NIFA Food Virology Collaborative, also called NoroCORE, a five-year, $25 million project. Dr. Jaykus’s students and staff also work in the development of pre-analytical sample processing methods to facilitate molecular-based detection of pathogens in foods, as well as the application of quantitative risk assessment in food safety.