Abhinav Upadhyay

Associate Professor

Dr. Abhinav Upadhyay joined the Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut in 2019 and currently serves as Associate Professor with a 70% research and 30% teaching appointment. His work focuses on Food Microbiology, Poultry Health and Safety, and Sustainable Food Production. He teaches Lecture and lab courses on Fundamentals of Poultry Production, Sustainable Poultry Production and Introduction to Food Microbiology Research.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Animal Science (Food Microbiology and Safety), Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, 2014
  • Master’s in Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc), Veterinary Microbiology, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, RJ, India, 2010
  • Bachelors of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc & A.H), Veterinary Science, Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary Education and Research (RIVER), Pondicherry, India, 2007

Teaching

  • ANSC 2271. Principles of Poultry Science
  • SAAS 271. Introduction to the Poultry Industry
  • ANSC 3695/5695. Current Trends in Sustainable Poultry Production
  • SAAS 375. Management Skills and Practices-Poultry
  • ANSC, SAAS 2699, 5699, 5692, 299. Independent Study (Food Microbiology, Poultry Science)

Research Areas / Expertise

  • Food Microbiology and Poultry Safety
  • Sustainable Poultry Production
  • Organic Poultry Production
  • Animal Health

Selected Publications

  1. Shah, T., Shah, C., Zhu, C., Upadhyaya, I., & Upadhyay, A. (2025). Carvacrol and caprylic acid nanoemulsions as natural sanitizers for controlling Salmonella enteritidis biofilms on stainless steel surfaces. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 21, 101876.
  2. Fanatico, A.C., Upadhyay, A. and Bramall, S.B., 2025. Sustainable poultry education for undergraduate students. Poultry science, 104(2), p.104693.
  3. Balasubramanian, B., Shah, T., Zhu, C., Rankin, K., Ghimire, S., Upadhyaya, I., & Upadhyay, A. (2023, August). Ultra-Fine Ozone Bubbles Inactivate Listeria Monocytogenes on Romaine Lettuce without Affecting Produce Color. In 2023 ASHS Annual Conference. ASHS.
  4. Allen, J., Balasubramanian, B., Rankin, K., Shah, T., Donoghue, A. M., Upadhyaya, I., … & Upadhyay, A. (2023). Trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion wash inactivates Salmonella Enteritidis on shelled eggs without affecting egg color. Poultry Science, 102(4), 102523.
  5. Balasubramanian, B., Shah, T., Allen, J., Rankin, K., Xue, J., Luo, Y., Mancini, R. and Upadhyay, A., 2022. Eugenol nanoemulsion inactivates Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Escherichia coli O157: H7 on cantaloupes without affecting rind color. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, p.984391.

Selected Awards, Grants, and Honors

  • Enhancing microbial safety and production efficiency in organic poultry farming: An interdisciplinary investigation of innovative strategies – USDA-NIFA-OREI (2023-2027)
  • Empowering small and medium poultry farms: Boosting safety and profitability with oxygen nanobubble supplementation in poultry drinking water – USDA NIFA-A1601 (Small and Medium Farms) (2024-2028)
  • Developing plant-based drinking water supplements for controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens – USDA NIFA-A1332 program (2021-2027)
  • UConn-AAUP Excellence in Research and Creativity: Early Career Award – UConn-AAUP (2024)
  • Poultry Science Association (PSA) Early Achievement Award-Research – Poultry Science Association (2020)

Extension, Outreach, and Service

Dr. Upadhyay contributes to extension, outreach, and professional service through educational programs focused on poultry health, food safety, and sustainable poultry production. He works with small and medium poultry producers, agricultural educators, students, and industry stakeholders to translate research-based innovations into practical strategies through workshops, demonstrations, and training programs. His service includes leadership in professional organizations, USDA grant review panels, student and producer outreach, and university and community initiatives that support poultry agriculture and food safety in Connecticut and beyond.

Professional Profiles

Abhinav Upadhyay
Contact Information
Emailabhinav.upadhyay@uconn.edu
Phone(860) 486-6585
Office LocationABL 220C