
The future of global food safety is being written in the labs and dairy plants of our leading universities. Today, we are proud to announce the 11 recipients of the 2026 Dr. Ron Schmidt Student Travel Award.
These exceptional students aren't just studying food science; they are solving real-world challenges. From investigating Listeria persistence in dairy plants to engineering nanotextured stainless steel surfaces, their work underscores the critical bridge between academic research and industry innovation.
These winners will travel to the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design, May 4 to 7 at the Marriott Chicago O'Hare. This isn’t just a trip; it’s an immersive professional launchpad. They will:
“These extraordinary students are pursuing meaningful research that can help solve real-world food safety challenges,” says 3-A SSI Chair John Kuhnz.
This award pays tribute to the late Dr. Ronald H. Schmidt, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida and a co-founder of 3-A SSI, continuing his legacy of mentorship and excellence in food safety.
Congratulations to our 2026 winners! We look forward to seeing your presentations in Chicago.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet these students at the Summit! REGISTER NOW!
Eric Schweitzer, Director, Standards and Certifications at 3-A SSI, will join two panels at the IAFP 2026 Annual Meeting.
The Kansas State University team earned first place with a two-pronged strategy to improve cleaning for equipment handling dry powder.
Price is the wrong number to base equipment decisions on. This article lays out a Total Cost of Ownership framework to help dairy processors and others make more informed procurement decisions.
Check out our professional photographer's pics from the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design.