J. David Legan, PhD
Director of Science
David earned his Ph.D. in Food Technology from the University of Reading in the UK by modeling the ecology of mixed microbial populations, and then moved to Campden BRI in a variety of microbiological food safety research and client service roles. During that time, he was project lead for the Bacillus component of the UK’s pathogen modeling program. He moved again to Nabisco Research in New Jersey where he ran the corporate microbiology lab and developed a program of preservation technology development and microbial modeling. After the Kraft Foods acquisition, he moved to Chicago to work on Food Safety and Preservation research, and through modeling and validation studies:
- Optimized Oscar Mayer’s use of lactate and diacetate and their naturally cultured alternatives as Listeria-control agents in Ready to Eat meats
- Specified process conditions central to Oscar Mayer’s commercial launch of High Pressure Pasteurization of naturally cured RTE meats
David had responsibility for the Kraft cultures R&D group, developed a partnership to explore microwave sterilization leading to several patents, and led a program that developed an internal proprietary natural antimicrobial commercialized in several Kraft products. Technologies from his group supported approximately $4 billion in annual sales.
After years as a microbiology "client", he is now back in the "provider" role as Director of Science at Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc., by way of the Covance Food Solutions group based in Madison, WI, which he joined in 2016. In this role, he ensures appropriate method validation, explores new testing technologies, and fields multiple complicated food microbiology questions.
Products that his team has evaluated or developed and launched include:
- The 3M MDS platform in the Madison microbiology laboratory
- Flow cytometry for enumeration of probiotics
- Strain-level confirmation of probiotic identification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Next-generation sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies GridION sequencing platform for microbial identification and microbiome analysis
Below are resources from David:
Watch our webinar for an introduction to Eurofins QTA’s Modeling as a Service (MaaS) offering, a flexible way for organizations to build, maintain, and improve chemometric models for FTIR and FTNIR analysis without committing to a full turnkey option. Whether you already have an IR program or are looking to start one, MaaS provides a scalable path that fits your needs and the level of support you are looking for. Original Airdate: April 16, 2026
As the U.S. moves toward record biofuel integration, producers face growing pressure to validate biobased fuel quality, strengthen their testing programs, and stay ahead of new regulatory expectations. Learn how Eurofins QTA is adjusting to new requirements.
Breeding improvements, shifting growing regions, climate variability, fertilizer practices, and processing changes can alter the balance of proteins, oils, moisture, and minor constituents in canola materials. Keep reading to learn how Eurofins can help you tackle these problems when they arise.
In this Case Study, learn how Eurofins QTA helped a client dramatically improve quality control, reduce waste, and optimize kiln performance.
Infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool for rapid, nondestructive measurement. But despite its advantages, IR often develops a reputation for being unreliable or not accurate as primary methods. Keep reading to learn more about how to build and validate a reliable model.
Our "Behind the Science" series looks at food testing from the perspective of the testers and industry experts who devote their careers to it. In this episode, Eurofins Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Doug Marshall speaks with Dr. Kangming Ma, President at Eurofins QTA. Originally aired on January 20, 2026.
How automated and rapid is your testing process? Review our checklist to see if your operation’s processes make you a good fit for automation through managed NIR.
When it comes to Eurofins grain inspections versus official agencies’ inspections, how are inspectors trained and qualified? What type of certificate will I receive? How fast is certificate turnaround? Learn the answers to these and more in our FAQ guide.
Fast, accurate, and always on time—our 24-hour rail inspection network delivers trusted, on-site results without delays or uncertainty. Whether routine or urgent, we ensure every inspection is fair, reliable, and efficient. Check out our infographic on how we are here for you.
Eurofins QTA is thrilled to announce the promotion of Anthony Lai and Ria Sieg to pivotal leadership positions within the company. Click to read about these promotions.
