PhD Projects

Utilization of acid whey as a fermentation aid to developing an enriched feed ingredient

Alba Mayta Apaza (PhD)

Advisor:
Rafael Jimenez-Flores (Department of Food Science and Technology)

Acidified dairy products generate large amounts of waste called acid whey (Aw). Similarly, the fishery industry wastes 45% of the whole fish by the end of its production chain. To valorize these by-products, this study hypothesized that fermentation of Aw and fish waste (Fw) would break down...
Quantifying Food Texture Selectivity of Children Through Conjoint Analysis

Amy Andes (PhD)

Advisor:
Christopher T. Simons (Department of Food Science and Technology)

Selective (picky) eating at an early age is very common. Food refusal due to certain sensory characteristics of a food, namely texture, can lead to inadequate intake of nutrients and a limited list of acceptable foods. This research set out to quantitatively measure selective eating in regard to...
Energy Infrastructure, Hydrocarbon Exports, and Community Risk

Anne Junod (PhD)

Advisor:
Jeffrey Jacquet (School of Environment and Natural Resources)

The ongoing North American shale boom exerts unprecedented pressure on U.S. energy transportation and export infrastructure, with oil train shipments increasing by over 4,000% in the last decade. Corresponding to this growth, the number and severity of catastrophic oil train accidents has...
Techno-economic analysis of biobased novolac resin production

Asmita Khanal (PhD)

Advisor:
Ajay Shah (Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering)

Novolac resins are produced by reacting phenol and formaldehyde, which are both conventionally obtained from petroleum refining. However, phenolic compounds present in biooil obtained via fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass can be used to partially substitute petroleum-derived phenol. Thus...
Identification of the Chemical Drivers of Coffee Bitterness Using Flavoromics

Chengyu Gao (PhD)

Advisor:
Devin Peterson (Department of Food Science and Technology)

Coffee consumption habits have been reported to directly impact the liking of bitterness. Bitter compounds in coffee have also been linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease. Consequently, understanding the molecular basis of coffee bitterness is of interest. Bitter compounds in coffee have been...
Rps-gene Introgression for an Updated set of Differentials

Christian Vargas Garcia (PhD)

Advisor:
Leah McHale (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] is one of the most important commodities in the US and worldwide. Phytophthora stem and root rot, caused by Phytophthora sojae, account for one of the largest yield-limiting factors in the US. Qualitative host resistance, conferred by race-specific, single, Rps- (...
Oleocolloid Matrices Designed for Food Systems

Clifford Park (PhD)

Advisor:
Farnaz Maleky (Department of Food Science and Technology)

In response to the need for replacing saturated and trans fats, oleogels (structured vegetable oils in the presence of gelators) opened a new area for food formulations. Although, oleogels have shown to be capable of mimicking textural attributes of solid fats and enhancing nutritional profiles...
Enhancing rubber dandelion germplasm by increasing mevalonate pathway activity

David Lankitus (PhD)

Advisor:
Katrina Cornish and Jonathan Fresnedo Ramirez (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science)

Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TK, a.k.a. rubber dandelion) is a dandelion relative that produces high-quality natural rubber (NR) in its roots. NR is used in about 50,000 products, and while global demand steadily increases, supply is solely dependent on Hevea brasiliensis, the rubber tree. H....
Urban habitat transformation and fragmentation affect native lady beetle abundance

Denisha Parker (PhD)

Advisor:
Mary Gardiner (Department of Entomology)

Landscape fragmentation associated with worldwide urbanization represents a major threat to native biodiversity. Despite these challenges, cities have been shown to support a high abundance and richness of arthropod species. Declining species, such as native lady beetles (Coccinellidae), may...
Small molecule targeting outer membrane lipopolysaccharide transporter complex (LptD/E) reduces avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) infection in poultry

Dipak Kathayat (PhD)

Advisor:
Gireesh Rajashekara (Food Animal Health Research Program)

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), an extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), causes high morbidity and mortality in chickens. A recent report has also suggested APEC as a foodborne human uropathogen. Currently, antibiotics are commonly used to control APEC infections; however, APEC strains...

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