Dr. Channah Rock serves as a Professor and the Jim Brennan Endowed Chair in Extension Fresh Produce Safety at the University of Arizona. She is based in the Department of Environmental Science, where she is also recognized as an Extension Specialist. Her work primarily focuses on water quality, emphasizing the safety and sustainability of water resources in arid environments and the public health implications of water reuse.
Dr. Rock completed her PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Arizona State University. Her research interests include molecular pathogen detection and the assessment of water quality, particularly in relation to the use of treated wastewater in Arizona. She actively engages in extension and outreach activities, aiming to improve environmental quality and health through her expertise.
Additionally, Dr. Rock leads Project Puente under the Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions (SBAR) initiative, which aims to encourage high school students to explore careers in agriculture and science. She has authored numerous publications and educational materials focusing on environmental microbiology, water safety, and food safety.
The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) has announced funding for ten new research projects, designed to answer questions on topics evaluating and mitigating risks associated with waxing roller brushes, enteric viruses, the Agricultural Water Rule, and other issues.
Center for Produce Safety has just funded 10 new fresh produce research projects, valued at just over $2.7 million.
A study aims to determine how irrigation water that is treated to control microbial activity may affect pathogens on crop surfaces or soil, with the end goal of developing a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for industry to gauge the reduction in microbial risk from treated water applied preharvest.