Advanced Molecular Analytics Professional Development Group
Mission Statement: To provide a forum for the exchange and sharing of information related to the development and use of advanced and emergent technologies to promote food safety and public health
Meeting Information
Virtual: TBD
In Person: IAFP 2025
July 27, 2025, Huntington Convention Center, Cleveland, Ohio
How to Join
Involvement in committees and professional development groups (PDGs) offers Members the opportunity to share a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Members of committees and PDGs are the architects of the Association structure. They plan, develop and institute many of the Association's projects, including workshops, publications and educational sessions. Technical challenges facing the food safety industry are discussed, examined and debated. Members may volunteer to serve on any number of committees or PDGs that plan and implement activities to meet the Association's mission.
Membership on a PDG is voluntary (not by appointment) and may vary from year to year.
IAFP Members can manage their PDG involvement by logging in to the IAFP Web site. At the Member Dashboard, click “Edit Profile.” Your profile has two tabs: Contact Info and Professional Info. Select the Professional Info tab and update the PDGs you would like to participate in. We highly recommend that you contact the PDG chairperson for each group to let them know you have joined their PDG.
Non-members can contact Dina Siedenburg, dsiedenburg@foodprotection.org for more information.
1. The AMA PDG recommends Mu Ye to the Vice-Chairperson position.
Board Response: Board Response: Agree.
2023 Board Response to Recommendations
None
2022 Board Response to Recommendations
AMA PDG recommends the approval of newly elected Joelle Salazar as the AMA PDG Vice Chair.
Board Response: Agreed.
Consider developing a central theme (e.g., a special message/series of topics) for each IAFP Annual Meeting that would communicate the current goals/aspirations of the Association.
Board Response: Since the IAFP Annual Meeting content is member driven, it would be difficult to establish a theme. It is better to leave this open rather than limit the meeting focus.
2021 Board Response to Recommendations
None
2020 Board Response to Recommendations
The Advanced Molecular Analytics PDG recommends Jasna
Kovac as the PDG Vice Chair.
Board Response: Agree.
The members recommended increasing the number of PDG
co-sponsors for proposal topics that are multidisciplinary and
relevant to multiple PDGs.
Board Response: The Program Committee set the limit of two
PDGs to narrow the focus for attendees who review this information in selecting sessions to attend.
2019 Board Response to Recommendations
Is there a way to incorporate a drop-down menu so that members can choose more than one co-sponsor for symposia and roundtables?
Board Response: Agree. There are two PDG co-sponsors available when submitting symposium proposals; a primary and a secondary sponsor.
2018 Board Response to Recommendations
The Advanced Molecular Analytics PDG approved Dr.
Xiangyu Deng as the new Vice Chair of the Advanced Molecular
Analytics PDG.
Board Response: Agree.
The Advanced Molecular Analytics PDG looks forward to
the August Webinar to explain the process for symposium
selection of and how to improve our proposals to strengthen
the chances of acceptance and requests that the Board
include information about how technical talks are rated as well.
Board Response: Agree. The Program Committee will be notified.
The Advanced Molecular Analytics PDG would like the
Board to provide more detailed information about the
proposal review process for symposia, roundtables, and
workshops. Additionally, would the Board be willing to provide
the reasons for rejecting applications and the scores or
rank of accepted and rejected proposals?
Board Response: Submissions are reviewed and scored
by each Program Committee Member and then the scores
are accumulated and analyzed. After ranking and much
discussion by the Committee, decisions are made by the
Program Committee on what is accepted into the program.
A balanced program is desired. Submitters may contact the
office for more details.
The Advanced Molecular Analytics PDG would like the Executive
Board to consider funding (for all PDGs) for a mobile
polling app such as Poll Everywhere for use during our
PDG meetings to collect ideas for symposia, round tables,
workshops and webinars. This app would greatly improve
and streamline the PDG process of discussing, and logging
ideas for symposia etc.
Board Response: Agree. The IAFP App has a polling feature that can be used. It will be offered to PDGs for future years.
2017 Board Response to Recommendations
Several people in the group recommended that the app be changed to include link to each PDG’s sponsored or co-sponsored sessions.
Board Response: Agree, staff will look into making the necessary changes.
Several requests for doubling or tripling the numbers of chairs and tables in the commons area for people to have more places to interact as well as laptop work.
Board Response: Board Response: Each Annual Meeting location is unique and it is recognized that networking areas are very important to the meeting. Efforts will be made to include areas for working and networking.
2016 Board Response to Recommendations
None
2015 Board Response to Recommendations
Approval of Dr. Greg Siragusa for Chair and Dr. Palmer Orlandi for Vice-Chair.
Board Response: Approved.
2014 Board Response to Recommendations
Over 95 IAFP members showed up for the organizational PDG meeting. Discussion followed regarding interest of developing into a PDG. There was overwhelming support for developing the proposed PDG into a new PDG which would be titled “Advanced Molecular Analytics Professional Development Group.”
Board Response: Approved.
David G. White (FDA) was elected as the first Chair of the AMA PDG. Vice Chair to be determined as soon as possible in consultation with IAFP on process.
Board Response: Approved David White as Chair. IAFP staff will be in contact regarding establishing a Vice Chair.
