April Jimenez

Hometown: San José, Costa Rica

Advisor: Dr. Dennis D'Amico

About

April Jiménez is a Master’s student in Dr. Dennis D’Amico’s lab, specializing in food microbiology and safety. Her research focuses on the application of high voltage atmospheric cold plasma as a non-thermal technology to enhance microbial safety, specifically comparing its efficacy against commercial disinfectants for inactivating foodborne pathogens and surrogates on sprout seeds.

Before joining UConn, April completed her undergraduate thesis at the University of Costa Rica on UV-C technology to improve microbial safety and reduce mycotoxins in fruit beverages and later gained international research experience at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln studying Aliarcobacter butzleri in poultry. In addition to her academic research, April has experience in the food industry, particularly in the dairy and meat sectors.

Her broader interests include innovative food safety interventions, foodborne pathogen control, mycotoxin mitigation, and bridging applied industry practices with scientific research. Outside the lab, April enjoys reading, exercising, and baking.

Education

• BS (Licenciatura) in Food Engineering, University of Costa Rica, 2018-2024
• MS, Food Microbiology and Safety, University of Connecticut, 2025-Present