** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INCREASING INCIDENCES OF FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS DUE TO SALMONELLOSIS NECESSITATE THE NEED FOR SIMPLE, FIELD-BASED, EASY TO USE TESTS THAT CAN BE USEDAT THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN TO ENSURE ADVANCED PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY. METHODS THAT ARE CURRENTLY USED FOR POINT-OF CARE (POC) TESTING ARE EITHER NOT SENSITIVE AND SELECTIVE OR HAVE INHERENT LIMITATIONS THAT RESTRICT THEIR IMPLEMENTATION FOR ON-SITE DETECTION AT FOOD PRODUCTION. IN THIS PROJECT, WE PROPOSE TO INTEGRATE LIGHT RESPONSIVE-COLORIMETRIC LABELS WITH SMARTPHONE-BASED LATERAL FLOW ASSAY (LFA, A PAPER-BASEDTECHNOLOGY) FOR THE ACCURATE DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF SALMONELLA SPP. IN REAL FOOD SAMPLESINCLUDING MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS. IT IS A SIMPLE-TO-USE PAPER-BASED TEST THAT DISPLAYS INTENSE BLUE COLOR SIGNAL IN THE PRESENCE OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINANTS ENABLING FAST, INEXPENSIVE AND ULTRASENSITIVE DETECTION.LIGHT-RESPONSIVE COLORIMETRIC LABELS ARE CREATED BY INTRODUCING GOLDNANOPARTICLES WITHIN THE POLYMERIC COATING OF MAGNETIC CORE IN A CONTROLLED FASHION USING A MICROWAVE REACTOR THAT ENDOWS HIGHER SENSITIVITY. THE MAGNETIC PROPERTY ALLOWS RAPID ISOLATION OF BACTERIA FROM DILUTED SAMPLES. IN ADDITION, THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEAPPROACHES IN THE SMARTPHONE-BASED LFA TECHNIQUE WILL FURTHER ENABLE TO READ THE RESULTS ACCURATELY.DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH SMARTPHONE-READABLE LFA TECHNOLOGY WILL SERVE AS FRONT-LINE TOOLS IN AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY FOR IMPLEMENTING BETTER FARM TO FORK INTERVENTIONS FOR FOOD SAFETY APPLICATIONS.