International Association for Food Protection Elects Maria Hoffmann to Executive Board

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Des Moines, Iowa - Members of the International Association for Food Protection elected Dr. Maria Hoffmann to the Executive Board as Secretary. Dr. Hoffmann will take office at the conclusion of IAFP 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and will fulfill a five-year commitment to the Association, serving as President beginning in July 2029.

Dr. Hoffmann is a Genomics Research Scientist in the Human Foods Program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Washington, D.C., where she leads national- and internationally-recognized initiatives to advance the genomic epidemiology of foodborne pathogens. Over the past two decades, she has worked at the intersection of science, public health, and food safety policy, developing advanced genomic methods, building global networks, and strengthening outbreak detection through whole genome sequencing (WGS). She began her public health career at the Institute for Hygiene and Environment in Hamburg before joining the FDA in 2007.

An active IAFP Member since 2014, Dr. Hoffmann is consistently recognized for her leadership and service. She has organized the annual Whole Genome Sequencing Workshop since 2016; convened numerous symposia and roundtables; and supported multiple IAFP Professional Development Groups (PDGs). She has also served as chair, reviewer, and judge for the Larry Beuchat Young Researcher Award; served on the Nominating Committee; and contributed four consecutive years to the Program Committee, including chairing the 2025 Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Hoffmann earned her Master’s in Food Chemistry and Ph.D. in Microbial Genetics from the University of Hamburg, Germany.