| 2025 | The past is never dead. It's not even past. Jim Dickson, Iowa State University |
| 2024 | Assessing and managing microbial risk during food transport and delivery Don Schaffner, Rutgers University |
| 2023 | Nuts! How a foodborne outbreak serendipitously shaped a career Linda Harris, UC Davis |
| 2022 | Troubleshooting spoilage issues in the plant: Use your common sense(s) Lori Ledenbach, Kraft Heinz |
| 2021 | 'Smart' supply chain management via integrated predictive models and sensors Mark Tamplin |
| 2020 | no award |
| 2019 | The sensitive scientist: How understanding and validating emotions around food can improve communications effectiveness Janet Riley, Maple Leaf Foods |
| 2018 | The Power of Information to Prevent Foodborne Illness Craig Hedberg, University of Minnesota School of Public Health |
| 2017 | Foodborne Salmonella in Poultry and Food Production — Research Perspectives Steve Ricke, University of Arkansas |
| 2016 | Unprecedented Challenges in Producing and Serving Safe Foods Michael P. Doyle, Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia |
| 2015 | Improving Public Health by Preventing Foodborne Diseases — Past, Present, and Future Robert V. Tauxe, CDC |
| 2014 | Food Allergy Research: Look What FRI Started Steve Taylor, University of Nebraska |
| 2013 | Food Safety: Creating a Comprehensive Regulatory Framework for Prevention Jenny Scott, FDA CFSAN |
| 2012 | Food Safety Eras: Past, Present, and What Is Next! Gale Prince, SAGE Food Safety Consultants |
| 2011 | Thirty Years of Foodborne Listeriosis Martin Wiedmann, Cornell University |
| 2010 | Stress, Survival, and Virulence of Bacterial Foodborne Pathogens Robert H. Deibel, Deibel Laboratories |
| 2009 | Interaction and Collaboration between Government, Industry and Academia to Address Food Safety Concerns Robert Brackett, Grocery Manufacturers Association |
| 2008 | no award |
| 2007 | no award |
| 2006 | Food Microbiology & the Food Industry: Stage Gate One in a Career Pipeline Rhona Applebaum, Coca-Cola Company |
| 2005 | International Developments in Managing Microbial Food Safety Martin Cole, National Center for Food Safety and Technology |
| 2004 | Chance and Common Sense William H. Sperber, Cargill Corporate Food Safety |
| 2003 | William C. Frazier, A Man for His Time Edwin M. (Mike) Foster, FRI, Director Emeritus |
| 2002 | Traditions in Food Microbiology: From Pasteur to Genomics Todd Klaenhammer, North Carolina State University |
| 2001 | Reflections Charles Duncan, Hershey Foods Corporation |
| 2000 | Food Safety Objectives: Concentrating on Disease Reduction Lester Crawford, Georgetown University |
| 1999 | Advances in Food Mycology Methodology Larry Beuchat, University of Georgia |
| 1998 | Impact of New Packaging and Preservation Technologies on Microorganisms in Foods Joseph Hotchkiss, Cornell University |
| 1997 | Food Safety in the 21st Century: To Test or Not to Test? That Is the Question Francis Busta, University of Minnesota |
| 1996 | Reform of FDA Food Regulations Peter Barton Hutt, Covington & Burling |
| 1995 | Dealing with Uncertainty: The Future of Food Microbiology? Robert Buchanan, USDA FSIS |
| 1994 | The Future of Foodborne Disease: Lessons from the Past Mitchell L. Cohen, CDC |
| 1993 | Microbiological Food Safety: A European Perspective Richard J. Gilbert, Public Health Laboratory Service |
| 1992 | Food Microbiology of the Future: From What We Have Learned in the Past Douglas Archer, FDA CFSAN |
| 2025 | Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in a model growth medium with the use of organic acid salts Alex Hart; Mentor: Kristin Schill |
| 2024 | Thermal inactivation of Salmonella in plant-based process cheese as a function of pH and water activity Calvin Slaughter; Mentor: Kristin Schill and Kathy Glass |
| 2023 | Conventional and aviary-style housing drive unique feather microbiota diversity and composition in laying hens (Tarcin) Growth and enterotoxin production of Stapylococcus in model poultry and meat products under anaerobic and aerobic conditions (Soon) Ashley Tarcin and Yu Xiang Soon; Mentor: Steve Ricke and Cindy Austin |
| 2022 | no award |
| 2021 | no award |
| 2020 | no award |
| 2019 | The effect of pH and antimicrobials on the growth and survival of Listeria monocytogenes in a high moisture model cheese Kory Anderson; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2018 | Control of Listeria monocytogenes in caramel apples with protective cultures Morgan Brown; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2017 | Identification of Salmonella enterica genes that influence plant host association Tyler Engel; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2016 | Salmonella enterica Suppresses Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Root Exudates While Host Genotype Influences Bacterial Growth Amy Parr; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2015 | The Effects of Nitrite on Clostridium perfringens Growth during Extended Cooling of Cured Ham Katie Osterbauer; Mentor: Kathy Glass, Jeff Sindelar |
| 2014 | Effect of Food Matrix on Thermal Inactivation Rate of Listeria monocytogenes Dana Billing; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2013 | Oxidative Stress Observed in Salmonella enterica Grown in Hyperosmotic Conditions Trace Borchardt; Mentor: Amy Wong |
| 2012 | Filamentous Salmonella enterica Formed During Osmotic Stress Undergo Changes to Nucleoid Morphology and ATP Generation Over Time Brad Gietman; Mentor: Charles W. Kaspar |
| 2011 | Salmonella enterica Genes Required for Survival on Lettuce Jessica O. Lund; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2010 | Tomato Plant Characteristics that deter Salmonella Contamination James N. Luo; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2009 | Identification of "Function Unknown"" Genes with a Role in the Ability of Salmonella to Survive in Water" Steven Molinarolo; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2008 | Remediation of a Nuclear Complex Important for Toxin Production Elizabeth Chadwick; Mentor: Nancy P. Keller |
| 2007 | no award |
| 2006 | A Novel Transcription Factor Family Regulating Sporulation and Mycotoxin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus Margaret Reuter; Mentor: Jae Hyuk Yu |
| 2005 | Function of Oxylipins in Fungal Secondary Metabolism and Morphological Development Meghan Walters; Mentor: Nancy P. Keller |
| 2004 | A Method to Prevent Egg Production Losses when Protecting Humans from Salmonella enteritis (SE) Transmitted by Eggs Meghan Schwartz; Mentor: Mark Cook |
| 2003 | The Effect of Fat Type and Level on Clostridium botulinum in Process Cheese Products Patrick Eimerman; Mentor: Kathy Glass, Eric Johnson |
| 2003 | Role of PPO Genes in Aspergillus nidulans Terri Kowieski; Mentor: Nancy P. Keller |
| 2002 | Survival of Salmonella on Shredded Cheese Patrick Eimerman; Mentor: Kathy Glass, Eric Johnson |
| 2001 | Searching for Genetic Elements in Fungal Growth Signaling Pathway Sara Rierson; Mentor: Jae Hyuk Yu |
| 2001 | Antimicrobial Activity of Additives Against Foodborne Pathogens in Media Staci Eickert; Mentor: Kathy Glass, Eric Johnson |
| 2000 | The Effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Isomers on Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Craig Pisarik; Mentor: Michael W. Pariza |
| 1999 | Subtyping of Vaginal Isolates of Group B Streptococci by Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis and Serotype Holley J. Willenberg; Mentor: John B. Luchansky |
| 1999 | Enhancement of Acid Tolerance by Expression of a Small Basic Peptide Jeffrey L. Bose; Mentor: Charles W. Kaspar |
| 1998 | Viability of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Full- and Reduced-fat Pepperoni After Manufacture of Sticks and Baking of Slices on Frozen Pizza Rachel K. Wierzba, Ann M. Roering, and Anne M. Ihnot; Mentor: John B. Luchansky |
| 2025 | Gale Prince IAFP Travel Award Napatsawan Pharino; Mentor: Sara Gragg |
| 2025 | Gale Prince IAFP Travel Award Alejandra Abrego Gavidia; Mentor: Sara Gragg |
| 2024 | Gale Prince IAFP Travel Award Calvin Slaughter; Mentor: Kristin Schill and Kathy Glass |
| 2023 | Brieana Gregg; Mentor: Sabine Pellett |
| 2023 | Gale Prince IAFP Travel Award Elena Olson; Mentor: Steve Ricke |
| 2022 | Jessica Brown; Mentor: Steve Ricke |
| 2021 | Jordan Nehls; Mentor: Jeff Sindelar |
| 2020 | Gina Marcela Gallego-Lopez; Mentor: Laura Knoll |
| 2019 | Kory Anderson; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2018 | Jie Yin Lim; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2025 | Alex Hart; Mentor: Kristin Schill |
| 2024 | no award |
| 2023 | Stevie Ward; Mentor: Kathy Glass and Kristin Schill |
| 2022 | Melissa Bohn and Brooke Bowe; Mentor: Kathy Glass/Kristin Schill and Sabine Pellett |
| 2021 | Yinuo Jin; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2020 | McKenna Mahnke; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2019 | Kory Anderson and Christie Cheng; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2018 | Jonathan Sogin; Mentor: Barb Ingham |
| 2017 | Megan Wagner; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2016 | Julia Martien and Amy Parr; Mentor: Jae-Hyuk Yu and Jeri Barak |
| 2015 | Emily Merry |
| 2014 | Joshua Lensmire |
| 2025 | Xingrui Fan; Mentor: Jae-Hyuk Yu |
| 2024 | no award |
| 2023 | no award |
| 2022 | no award |
| 2021 | no award |
| 2020 | Carolina Mendoza Cavazos; Mentor: Laura Knoll |
| 2019 | Nandhitha Venkatesh; Mentor: Nancy Keller |
| 2018 | Will Olson; Mentor: Laura Knoll |
| 2017 | Ahmad Alshannaq; Mentor: Jae-Hyuk Yu |
| 2016 | Eliot Stanton; Mentor: Chuck Kaspar |
| 2015 | Kymberleigh Romano; Mentor: Federico Rey |
| 2014 | Kenneth Brandenburg |
| 2013 | Amanda M. King |
| 2012 | Jose Pablo Soto-Arias |
| 2011 | Keith Poulsen |
| 2010 | Heesoo Park |
| 2009 | Lori Neal |
| 2025 | Xingrui Fan; Mentor: Jae-Hyuk Yu |
| 2024 | Justin Eagan; Mentor: Nancy Keller |
| 2023 | Megan Dixon; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2022 | Dasol Choi; Mentor: Jae-Hyuk Yu |
| 2021 | Andrew Steinberger; Mentor: Garret Suen |
| 2020 | Harrison Moon; Mentor: Jae-Hyuk Yu |
| 2019 | Sarah Engstrom; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2018 | Sarah Engstrom; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2017 | Will Olson; Mentor: Laura Knoll |
| 2016 | Wan Mei Leong; Mentor: Barbara Ingham |
| 2015 | Joseph Spraker |
| 2025 | Wooden cheese board bacteria inhibit Listeria monocytogenes Yuxing Chen; Mentor: Tu-Anh Huynh |
| 2024 | Sponsored by Sargento Foods Qualitative and quantitative Salmonella biomapping of commercial pork harvest facilities Jessica Brown; Mentor: Steve Ricke |
| 2023 | Effects of competitive inhibition between C. botulinum Group I and II strains commonly used in food challenge studies Brieana Gregg; Mentor: Sabine Pellett |
| 2022 | Entamoeba spp. as a model organism for the study of oral Entamoeba infection in Swiss Webster mice Carolina Mendoza Cavazos and Marienela Heredia; Mentor: Laura Knoll |
| 2021 | no award |
| 2020 | no award |
| 2019 | Antibiotic use on Wisconsin dairy farms Andrew Steinberger; Mentor: Garret Suen |
| 2018 | Characterization of a novel botulinum neurotoxin and its potential for pharmaceutical use Molly Moritz; Mentor: Eric Johnson; This year's award sponsored by Promega |
| 2017 | Effects of Eimeria spp. infection on intestinal interleukin-10 production in broilers Maria Arendt; Mentor: Mark Cook; This year's award sponsored by Promega |
| 2016 | Thermal Inactivation of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in Beef Patties, Chicken Patties, Chicken Tenders, and High-Fat Frankfurters Russ McMinn; Mentor: Jeff Sindelar, Kathy Glass; This year's award sponsored by Promega |
| 2015 | Microbial metabolism modulates the nutritional value of food: From health benefit to host detriment Kymberleigh Romano; Mentor: Federico Rey; This year's award sponsored by Promega |
| 2025 | Yuxing Chen; Mentor: Tu-Anh Huynh |
| 2024 | Billy Erazo; Mentor: Laura Knoll |
| 2023 | Eddy Cruz (declined due to alternate funding); Mentor: Johanna Elfenbein |
| 2022 | Megan Dixon; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2021 | Harrison Moon; Mentor: Jae-Hyuk Yu |
| 2020 | Vicky Lason; Mentor: Jeri Barak |
| 2019 | Sarah Engstrom; Mentor: Kathy Glass |
| 2018 | Dianiris Luciano-Rosario; Mentor: Nancy Keller |
| 2025 | Joie Ling; Mentor: Drew Hryckowian |
| 2024 | Mark Heggen; Mentor: JP van Pijkeren |
| 2023 | Evan Chrisler; Mentor: Vanessa Leone |
| 2022 | Marienela Heredia; Mentor: Laura Knoll |
| 2021 | Shenwei Zhang; Mentor: JP van Pijkeren |
| 2020 | Shenwei Zhang; Mentor: JP van Pijkeren |
| 2019 | Evan Hutchison; Mentor: Federico Rey |
| 2018 | Mustafa Özçam; Mentor: JP van Pijkeren |
