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Tom Kasputis

BSE Ph.D. Student
  • Walts Scholar
  • Research areas: Developing novel biosensors for the detection of foodborne pathogens and emerging viruses
Thomas "Tom" Kasptuis, Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering Graduate Student
HABB1 301-3

Ph.D., Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2025 Expected

B.S., Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2021

August 2021-present, Graduate Research Assistant, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech

Virginia Governor’s School of Agriculture Certificate of Appreciation, 2022

CeZAP ID IGEP Graduate Student Competition Winner, 2022

Pratt Fellowship, 2021

Walts Fellowship, 2021

Teaching Assistant for BSE_4534 Biological Processing Lab   08/2022 - 12/2022

Teaching Assistant for BSE_4524 Biological Processing Plant Design 08/2022 – 12/2022

My research focuses on developing novel biosensors for the detection of foodborne pathogens and emerging viruses. My projects involve genetically engineering the M13 bacteriophage for multiplexed magnetic concentration of bacteria, developing a microfluidic device for quantitative, simple, and point-of-care Zika Virus detection, as well as CRISPR-Cas12a-based biosensors for the detection of Salmonella and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs).

I have been a research assistant for the past two years, learning about biosensors and nanoscale science engineering. Through my research, I hope to be able to develop rapid, novel, affordable tests for foodborne pathogens along the supply chain.

Reviewed Journals

  • T. Kasputis, S. Hilaire, K. Xia, J. Chen*. (2022). Colorimetric Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance from Food Processing Facilities Using a CRISPR System. ACS Food Science & Technology. doi: 10.1021/acsfoodschitech.2c00302

Poster Presentations

  • Kasputis T. Simple, Rapid Digitized Loop-Mediated Amplification (dLAMP) for Zika Virus Detection. Poster presented at: Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens (CeZAP) Infectious Diseases Symposium; 2022 Oct 7; Blacksburg, VA