ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
Peter F. Roessler
Peter Roessler is a 1988 graduate of South Dakota State University
with a B.S. in Microbiology and a minor in Chemistry. After graduation,
Pete came back and obtained an M.S. in Microbiology with an emphasis in
microbial genetics and industrial microbiology. His M.S. thesis was entitled
"nitrate and nitrite reduction and ammonia assimilation in Azospirillum
brasilense Sp7 and recombinant Escherichia coli strains." After
completing the Masters in 1990 Pete accepted a position as a Microbiologist
in Analytic Services at Amway Research in Ada, Michigan. He was promoted
to Research Microbiologist in 1993. His project responsibilities include
the documentation of bioaerosol filtration efficiency of air tr eatment
systems, evaluation of the microbial efficacy of kitchen and bathroom care
disinfectant formulations, product biodegradability (CO2 evolution) testing,
organization of investigations into microbiologically contaminated finished
personal care products, investigation of the bacteerial quality of domestic
kitchen sponges, optimization of the level of anti-bacterial agents in
personal and home care products, claims documentation for mold removal
products, and investigations of food spoilage/contamination episodes. These
projects have assisted in the successful launch of many Amway products
and led to 13 publications and presentations, including a 1996 publication
in the Journal of Food Protection entitled, Contamination of an Unpreserved
Semi-Soft Baked Cookie with a Xerophilic Aspergillus Species. Recently
he co authored a chapter on disinfection in a new book published by Cambridge
University Press. Pete and his wife, Lara, live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He enjoys basketball, water-skiing and duck hunting.
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