Dr. Sara Gragg

Professor

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Biography

Sara Gragg is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has served as department chair since July 2025. Dr. Gragg earned her B.S. in Food Science Technology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2006, her M.S. in Food Science from Texas Tech University in 2008, and her Ph.D. in Animal Science from Texas Tech University in 2012. Her research focuses on food safety issues impacting the meat industry, specifically investigating post-harvest interventions to prevent and reduce pathogen presence. She is particularly interested in studying pre-harvest transmission of foodborne pathogens in food animals and high-risk animal tissues such as lymph nodes. Dr. Gragg has taught various courses in food microbiology, food policy, contemporary issues in animal science and agriculture, and global food systems leadership. Her involvement includes serving on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Food Protection and participating in several committees related to academic planning and dairy innovation.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor, Chair

— Present

Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison • Madison, WI

Leading the department while conducting teaching and research.

Awards

#

Advanced Degree Graduate Distinction Award

Courses

Food Microbiology Food Policy Contemporary Issues in Animal Science and Agriculture Global Food Systems Leadership

Requirements for University of Wisconsin–Madison

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:92
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:125
Overall
Required:125
Prerequisites
Programming experience (Data Structures, Machine Organization) One year college-level calculus
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose
  • CV/Resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Unofficial transcripts
Specialization Notes

Department: Department of Computer Sciences