Mohammad Koohmaraie, Ph.D.

Lake Forest Park, WA

Dr. Mohammad Koohmaraie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Meat Division of IEH Laboaratories and Consulting Group. Dr. Koohmaraie received his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Pahlavi University in Iran. He received his M.S. degree from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. degree in Animal Science from Oregon State University. From 1984 to 1987, Dr. Koohmaraie was a postdoctoral fellow at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) of USDA-ARS and Michigan State University. In 1987, he joined the staff at USMARC as a Research Physiologist. In 1991, he became the Research Leader of the Meats Research Unit (MRU) at that location. During his career as a scientist and Research Leader of the MRU, he focused his research efforts on the biological mechanisms regulating meat tenderness as well as addressing food safety issues facing the meat industry. In 2005, Dr. Koohmaraie became the Director of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, he had the responsibility for directing research and operation of the Center. The Center employs 260 staff members, including 64 permanent and temporary scientists. The 2006 operating budget for USMARC is $23.8 million.