Food Protection Trends - November/December 2024 - 430

BEYOND the BIO
Name: Erin Crowley
Employment: Q Laboratories
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
From Part Time to a Lifetime
A Reflection of How Erin Crowley's Weekend Job Led to
a Rewarding Career in the Food Protection Industry
Erin Crowley, chief scientific officer at
Q Laboratories, didn't plan on a career in
food safety, yet her journey has spanned
nearly three decades in the industry. From
her early days as a 17-year-old weekend
lab assistant to becoming a leading figure
in food safety technology, Erin's path
demonstrates how chance encounters and
unexpected opportunities can shape an
entire career.
Erin's journey began as a college student
pursuing a biology degree at the University
of Cincinnati with ambitions of attending
medical school. Like many undergraduates,
she sought part-time work to supplement
her studies. " I was looking for a research
job or something I could do while pursuing
my undergrad degree, " she says. A friend's
suggestion led her to Q Labs, where she
accepted a weekend job in the microbiology
food lab. Little did she know this job would
become the foundation for a long and
rewarding career. " I had no idea what I was
getting myself into or how it would impact
the next nearly 30 years of my life, " she says.
This early exposure not only taught her
technical skills but also instilled a passion
for public health. It was this new passion
that shifted her career trajectory away from
medicine. After completing her degree at
Cincinnati, she pursued a graduate degree
in public health at Tufts University in
Massachusetts. Erin then went on to work
with families impacted by food and human
pathogens and foodborne illness.
After " several years of trying to save the
world's sick children through nonprofit
work, " Erin was invited back to Q Labs. The
offer to return wasn't just about professional
advancement. " They really are like family
to me, " Erin explains, so coming home to Q
Labs was an easy decision for her. Returning
to lead its new Microbiology R&D facility
was an opportunity that would open doors
she never could have predicted at the time.
Erin's work at Q Labs coincided with a
surge in innovation and demand for rapid
testing technologies in the food industry.
Under her leadership, Q Labs focused on
430 Food Protection Trends November/December
evaluating and validating methods that
offer quicker and more accurate results,
which are crucial for ensuring the safety of
food products in a fast-paced market. " We
work to evaluate the most sensitive, most
cost-effective methods, specifically for
microbiology, for pathogens and spoilage
indicators in a broad range of foods, " Erin
explains. Her team explored alternative
methods that challenge traditional, laborintensive
approaches, like cultural methods,
by leveraging advanced technologies.
The public's heightened awareness of
food safety, especially in the wake of the
COVID-19 pandemic, has made Erin's
role even more vital. " I always say the
COVID-19 pandemic helped me explain
what I do for a living to my family. It was
common to hear the question, 'Did you
get the rapid test or the PCR test?' And
we do that - but for the food industry, "
Erin says. She likens Q Labs' role to that of
a guardian - ensuring food, ingredients,
and production environments are safe
and compliant with evolving consumer
Food Protection Trends - November/December 2024

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