Unlu is a Food Microbiologist whose career has been dedicated to exploring the world of foodborne microorganisms. Her research spans the beneficial (probiotics, starter cultures, adjunct cultures), the harmful (pathogenic microorganisms), and the unwanted (spoilage organisms). Over the years, her laboratory has specialized in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their fermentation processes, with a particular focus on functional foods like kefir and yogurt. Her expertise also extends to yeast and yeast-based fermentations, biopreservation, probiotic bacteria, bioactive packaging, dairy food and ingredient microbiology, and the value-added processing of agricultural and industrial byproducts. While her lab has explored a variety of commodities—including dairy, potatoes, fish, grape juice, and wine—dairy products have been their primary focus due to their vital importance to the region. Unlu’s current research interests include advancing dairy food microbiology, enhancing dairy food quality and safety, exploring the dairy microbiome, optimizing dairy cultures, developing functional dairy foods, and innovating biologically-based preservation methods.

Education

• Postdoctoral training, Biotechnology Center for Alternative Fuels and Chemicals, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO
• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, Food Science with an emphasis on Food Microbiology and a minor in Bacteriology
• M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, Food Science
• B.S., Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, Food Engineering

Professional Experience

• Aug. 2024-present Associate Professor, School of Food Science, Washington State University
• Aug. 2024-present Professor Emerita, Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, University of Idaho-Moscow
• July 2024-Aug. 2024 Professor, Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, University of Idaho-Moscow
• Nov. 2022-Dec. 2022 Fulbright Specialist, Shakhrisabz Branch of Tashkent Chemical-Technological Institute (TCTI), Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan
• July 2020-June 2024 Associate Professor, Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, University of Idaho-Moscow
• Oct. 2016-June 2024 Affiliate Faculty, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Idaho-Moscow
• Jan. 2011-July 2024 Adjunct Faculty, School of Food Science, Washington State University-Pullman
• July 2007-June 2020 Associate Professor, School of Food Science, University of Idaho-Moscow
• Feb. 2013-June 2013 Fulbright Research Fellow, Department of Food Engineering, Middle East Technical University-Ankara, Turkey
• Aug. 2002-June 2009 Adjunct Faculty, Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, University of Idaho-Moscow
• July 2000-June 2007 Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Toxicology, University of Idaho-Moscow
• July 1997-July 2000 Postdoctoral Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, Co