- Dr. Martha Belury is the recipient of the 2024 inaugural Nutrition Society of Taiwan (NST) Award for the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), an annual award that honors ASN members who have made noticeable contributions to advance nutrition research, clinical practice, or education in Taiwan, or individuals who have worked in partnership with Taiwanese scientists, researchers, and educators.
- Dr. Osvaldo Campanella has been named a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST). The IAFoST collectively forms a diverse pool of scientific expertise in food science and technology and related disciplines from which IUFoST draws non-aligned expert advice on scientific matters. Fellows serve as independent professional leaders who engage and endorse high standards of ethics and scientific endeavors.
- Congratulations to Veeramani Karuppuchamy on receiving the 2023-2024 Graduate Associate Leadership Award (GALA). Veeramani is a PhD student in the department and is advised by Dr. Osvaldo Campanella. The GALA is Ohio State’s recognition of the exceptional leadership provided by graduate students as leaders while being an OSU graduate student.
- Congratulations to the OSUFST College Bowl Team on winning the IFTSA Midwest Regional College Bowl competition that took place this year at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. They will go on to compete at the national competition during the #IFTFirst Annual Meeting in July. Team members include Shreya Nuguri, Swetha Sarangarajan, Thomas Reis, Ankur Upadhyay, Megan Chludzinski, Eleanor Shepard, and Samara Whitmore.
- Our students participated in several research poster and oral competitions this semester. Congratulations to our students who placed in the 2024 Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum. Mostafa Ali Abdelbary and Samuel Hoffman received Honorable Mention for their oral presentations in the Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences category. Danielle Voss placed 3rd and Kevin Kim received Honorable Mention for their posters in the Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences category. Allison Howell placed 3rd with her poster in the Social and Behavioral Sciences category. Veeramani Karuppuchamy placed 3rd in the PhD category for his poster at the CFAES Research Forum and Rachel Cole placed 1st for her poster in the Research Scientist category. The CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum was held during the same week and the following students from the department placed in the Food Science and Technology category: Talia Katz placed 1st, Rachel Barrett place 2nd, Eric Armstrong placed 3rd, and Nick Fox received Honorable Mention. During our department’s 3rd Annual FoodSURE poster competition Talia Katz placed 1st, Rachel Barrett and Sakura Sugiyama placed 2nd, and Paige Consolo placed third.
- Dr. Bala Balasubramaniam participated as a panelist in a virtual roundtable discussion on "Enabling Food & Nutrition Security through Processing Technologies to Sustainably Preserve Nutritional Quality". The Institute of Food Technologists published a whitepaper based on the discussion.
- Dairy Management Inc., the federal agency that manages check-off money from dairy farmers has granted funding to Dr. Rafael Jiménez-Flores to study milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) from buttermilk and its applications in health promoting via the gut-brain axis. FST graduate student Isha Patil will work on concentrating MFGM from buttermilk produced in the department’s dairy pilot plant.
- Dr. Brian Waters was a guest on All Sides with Anna Staver to talk about the current state of Ohio’s craft brewing industry. All Sides is a two-hour, daily public-affairs talk show designed to over time touch upon all sides of the issues and events that shape life in central Ohio.
- Dr. Yael Vodovotz coauthored an article published in the Food Industry Executive titled “The Food & Beverage Industry Needs New Material: A Sustainable Future for Packaging.”
- Several students have recently been inducted into Phi Tau Sigma, the honor society of food science and technology. Congratulations to FST undergraduates Noah Dameron and Talia Katz and to FST graduate students Stephanie Almquist, Nana Boateng, Evita Maitland, Theresa Parr, Ana Maria Valesquez, and Kartik Verma.
- Congratulations to the newly selected FST Peer Mentors for the 2024/25 academic year; Lilli Kirk, Kritika Gaur, Kamora (KC) McEntire, Reaghan Norton, Sadie Rosenfeld, and Tate Wenning. They will join returning mentors, Jack Pettit, Jessica Lau, and Abby Nukuto. The FST Peer Mentors are instrumental in assisting our incoming freshman as they transition to OSU and serve as ambassadors for our department.
- FST graduate student Rinky Ghosh has been selected to receive a student grant from the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State to support her proposal “Developing Sustainable Packaging Solutions: Integrating Bioplastic PHBV and Natural Rubber with Coffee Waste and Eggshells”. Rinky is advised by Dr. Yael Vodovotz.
- Congratulations to FST graduate student Maria Sholola who was award an Ohio Soybean Council scholarship. Maria is advised by Dr. Jessica Cooperstone.
- Congratulations to FST graduate student Kevin Kim who has been selected as the winner of the 2023 Institute for Perception Award. Kevin is advised by Dr. Chris Simons.
- Several FST faculty and staff were recognized by the College for milestone years of service at Ohio State. Dr. Ahmed Abdelhamid, Ashley Soldavini, and Dr. Louise Campbell were recognized for 5 years of service, Dr. Chris Simons and Dr. Brian Waters were recognized for 10 years of service, Dr. Mary Kay Pohlschneider was recognized for 15 years of service, and Dr. Luis Rodriguez-Saona was recognized for 20 years of service.
- Dr. Valente Alvarez presented “Understanding the Compatibility Between Soluble Fiber and Casein for the Development of Functional Foods” at the International 19th Food Colloids Conference 2024, in Thessaloniki, Greece. He also visited the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and presented Ohio State’s FST program to faculty and students at the School of Agriculture Department of Food Science & Technology.
- In April, the Food Industries Center conducted an onsite Better Process Control School at Michael Foods (West Jefferson, OH). Lead instructor, Dr. Valente Alvarez, Steven Simmons, and industry experts trained employees in thermal processing of aseptic foods.
- The Food Industries Center trained FDA, NOAA, U.S. Army, and state regulators through the FD152 Food Processing & Technology an in-person course. Dr. Valente Alvarez led a team of collaborators from FST, FABE, and the food industry, including numerous staff and graduate students, and the following faculty: Dr. V.M. 'Bala' Balasubramaniam, Dr. Osvaldo Campanella, Dr. Dennis Heldman, Dr. Melvin Pascall, and Dr. Mary Kay Pohlschneider. The 5-day course provided an overview of the basic principles in food processing, technology, and awareness of associated equipment used to ensure the safety of manufactured foods.
- Dr. Valente Alvarez also led the Food Industries Center’s hybrid Better Process Control School, with lectures from Steven Simmons, Matt Papic, and expert industry collaborators. Daily lectures were offered in microbiology, acidified and low-acid foods, container closures and handling, thermal processing, and recordkeeping. This course satisfies the training requirements specified in both the FDA and USDA regulations designed to prevent public health hazards in low-acid and acidified low-acid canned foods.
Upcoming Events
May 3 FST Spring Semester Graduation Party
2:30 Parker Food Science and Technology Lobby
May 10 Phi Tau Sigma Annual Fun Run/Walk
3 pm Front of Howlett Hall
June 25-28 Food Industries Center Training Course
Food Extrusion Workshop http://www.go.osu.edu/extrusion
