THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED WORK IS TO ADDRESS THE KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN CONNECTING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANT (AMR) FOODBORNE PATHOGEN RISK ASSESSMENT TO HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT QUANTITATIVE MICROBIAL RISK ASSESSMENT. THIS WILL BE MATERIALIZED THROUGH TWO OBJECTIVES, WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED FOR AN ILLUSTRATIVE, RELEVANT CASE-STUDY SCENARIO (FLUOROQUINOLONE-RESISTANT NON-TYPHOIDAL SALMONELLA). THE OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) DETERMINING SUITABIITY OF A DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP LINKING FLUOROQUINOLONE-RESISTANT SALMONELLA EXPOSURE TO HUMAN HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND 2) BUILDING A GENERALIZABLE FRAMEWORK TO ACCOUNT FOR HORIZONTAL GENE TRANSFER IN VARIOUS PATHOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT MATRICES. WHEN COMPLETED, THIS WORK WILL FILL THE RESEARCH GAP FOR RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES IN THESE AREAS, AND ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRACTICAL RISK ASSESSMENTS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY LACKING IN THIS DISCIPLINE.THIS PROJECT IS RELEVANT TO THE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY AND THE AFRI EWD GOAL ADVANCING SCIENCE, IN TWO WAYS. FIRST, THE COMBINATION OF PROPOSED MENTORED CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING PURSUITS ARE AIMED TO FURTHER DEVELOP MY QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS, SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS NECESSARY FOR A CAREER IN GOVERNMENT. SECOND, THIS PROJECT AFFORDS INTERDISCIPLINARY NETWORKING, PUBLICATION, AND NATIONAL CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES BENEFICIAL FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT. THESE OUTCOMES WILL BE ENSURED THROUGH AN IDP AND REGULAR PROJECT MENTOR INTERACTION.