Jeff Bender, DVM, MS

I am a veterinarian and public health practitioner with 20 years of post-graduate experience, I have directed and collaborated on a broad range of research and surveillance projects pertaining to infectious and zoonotic diseases (i.e. influenza, foodborne diseases, antimicrobial resistant organism). My research is multidisciplinary, requiring collaborations with government, industry, and commodity organizations. This includes scientists in academia, NIH, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, and private industry. I also have served on policy-making bodies designing programs to address emerging issues in public health.

Some previous positions include: Director of the USAID funded One Health Workforce project focused on building capacity for detecting, responding and preventing emerging infectious diseases in SE Asia and Africa; Special Government Employee – FDA Science Advisory Board; Principle Investigator of the CDC funded Avian Influenza Cooperative Research Center.