Brian Sauders, PhD is the New York State Rapid Response Team Coordinator at the NY State Dept of Agriculture and Markets. He coordinates their involvement in the CDC PulseNet program and subsequent cluster/outbreak investigations involving foodborne pathogens isolated from foods sold at retail.  He has a special interest in the molecular epidemiology and ecology of foodborne pathogens. He also works on the validation and implementation of molecular diagnostic assays for screening for foodborne pathogens in foods and animal feeds.