Dr. Branko Velebit is food microbiologist with 22 years of expertise in managing and leading an ISO 17025-accredited government food microbiology laboratory where his work has focused on (i) developing and validating methodologies for the detection of enteric viruses in food; and (ii) evaluating the efficacy of novel nonthermal enteric virus inactivation strategies (e.g., cold plasma and pulsed light). His interests lie in mitigating enteric virus transmission through the food chain, with a focus on human norovirus, and hepatitis A and E viruses. Technical strengths include advanced molecular microbiology techniques (qPCR, digital PCR, NGS) for detecting foodborne viruses (HuNoV, HAV, HEV) and bacterial pathogens such as STEC, CPS, Cronobacter sakazakii, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, and Salmonella.

These activities have resulted in his appointment to the ISO/CEN working groups charged with developing and validating standards enteric virus detection in foods; he also actively participates in the activities of EU reference laboratories for foodborne viruses. He also serves as a registered expert for the National Standardization Institute in Food Microbiology.

In addition to his research and regulatory activities, he is strongly committed to postgraduate education and mentorship. He has led a research team of five scientists and supervised 15 doctoral dissertations in food microbiology. To date, he has authored 196 publications in the field of food safety.