Student Spotlight: Maya Craig
April 30, 2026
Maya Craig is a doctoral candidate in biomedical and biological sciences from Buffalo, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree at SUNY Geneseo and now studies the spread of Salmonella in dairy cattle populations under the guidance of Kevin Cummings at Cornell.
What is your area of research and why is it important?
My research focuses on understanding how Salmonella spreads in dairy cattle populations. I use epidemiological approaches to address questions regarding pathogen detection and disease reservoirs among dairy environments. I am specifically interested in a multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogen called Salmonella Dublin. This pathogen has significantly increased in prevalence since its initial discovery in U.S. cattle populations during the 1960s. Salmonella Dublin is a threat to animal health, as it is commonly associated with morbidity and mortality in young calves. Additionally, this bacteria is capable of persisting in dairy environments for long periods, making this pathogen difficult to eradicate in infected herds.
What are the larger implications of this research?
Preventing the spread of Salmonella Dublin ultimately protects dairy herd productivity and subsequently our food systems. Many of the Salmonella Dublin outbreaks that have occurred in the U.S. have been traced back to milk and beef products. When people are infected, they have a higher chance of hospitalization and even death in comparison to if they were infected with a different type of nontyphoidal Salmonella. Given that Dublin is highly resistant to several antimicrobials, treating infection in humans and animals is challenging. Therefore, understanding preventative measures is important for tackling this issue.
What inspired you to choose this field of study?
I was inspired to study epidemiology because I am a firm believer that individual well-being is heavily dependent on community well-being. When communities are healthy, they help protect individuals who are most vulnerable to adverse health outcomes. Having the opportunity to work in epidemiology and agricultural settings has really helped me to understand the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and how protecting one population means protecting all. So for me, becoming an epidemiologist has meant understanding how we are all dependent on one another in some way. That is what continues to inspire me.
You recently published research in the American Journal of Veterinary Research. Can you tell us about this research and its impacts?
The main objective of this study was to understand how heifer raiser facilities may play a role in the spread of Salmonella Dublin amongst dairy cattle. Heifer-raising facilities are places designed to raise calves from the time they are weaned up until the late stages of pregnancy. These facilities are used because raising heifers requires a lot of labor and resources that may take away from caring for other animals in the herd. We found that dairy cattle are likely being exposed to Salmonella Dublin at these raising facilities close to their arrival at the facilities and experience ongoing exposure during their stay. Identifying heifer‑raiser facilities as a potential point of exposure presents an opportunity for more targeted prevention measures.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of your research or scholarship?
I’ve found leisure in reading books when I am not working on school-related things. I like going to the Tompkins County Public Library to pick out new books to read. My current favorite genres are thrillers and mysteries. I’ve even started a book club with other graduate students at Cornell. I’ve also taken up an interest in wine tasting, wine pairings, and exploring the different local wineries.
Why did you choose Cornell to pursue your degree?
I chose Cornell and the field of biomedical and biological sciences in particular because I was intrigued by the potential of conducting highly interdisciplinary work, specifically in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). I became interested in antimicrobial resistance during my undergraduate studies and knew I wanted to continue studying AMR in a way that combines my interests in statistics and population health. Cornell was one of the only institutions that offered this research experience that I was looking for.