Dr. Don is a Research Associate at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, specializing in Food Safety and Microbiology. Dr. Don completed his Ph.D. in Food and Agricultural Sciences at the same institution, focusing his research on the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and control of Salmonella in organic and non-organic chickens. He holds a Master of Science in Food and Agricultural Sciences from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and a Bachelor of Science (Special) in Aquatic Resources Technology from Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Don's research interests are centered on improving food safety and microbiology across various domains including meat and poultry, water, fresh produce, and seafood. He is dedicated to mitigating foodborne illnesses and optimizing the use of antimicrobials for pathogen control on food and food contact surfaces without degrading food quality. His work significantly contributes to understanding and monitoring antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens in food.

In his prolific career, Dr. Don has published extensively in journals such as Frontiers in Microbiology, the Journal of Food Protection, and Heliyon. His collaborative efforts are also evident in publications in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems and the Sri Lanka Journal of Animal Production. Additionally, Dr. Don has served as a peer reviewer for several esteemed journals, including Microbiology Spectrum, Poultry Science, Journal of food protection, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Journal of Microbiology, Antibiotics, Animal Microbiome, and Applied Sciences.

Dr. Don has been recognized with multiple awards, including scholarships from the Delmarva Chicken Association and a travel award from the Poultry Science Association. In his current role, he mentors both undergraduate and graduate students, nurturing the next generation of scientists and advancing the field of food microbiology.