Food Science - Research Overview
Food Science - Research Overview
The Department of Food Science is committed to impacting the world food system and quality of life by educating and training students for careers in industry, government, and academia. Our mission is to engage in discovery-driven activities leading to innovative learning and outreach that: enhances health, safety, quality, and sustainability of foods; prepares the next generation of leaders in food science; and addresses stakeholder needs. The Department of Food Science has developed four key areas of expertise, each with several major thrusts.
Dr. Amanda Deering 
Dr. Stephen Lindemann 
Dr. Haley Oliver-Jischke Research Areas
Food Chemistry, Structure, and Function
Identifies and creates new aspects of composition, structure, and other functional properties of whole foods and food constituents using chemistry, biochemistry, and material sciences to improve the quality, nutrition, affordability, stability, and sustainability of food and food-related products
Foods for Health
Applies food and biological science principles to the study of whole foods, macro- and micro-nutrients, and bioactive components as a means to improve consumer health and identifies mechanisms by which these effects arise (such as the molecular interactions of food components in biological systems and the role of the gut microbiome)
Food Processing & Technology Development
Integrates engineering, chemistry, nanotechnology, environmental sciences, and microbiology through food processing operations to produce safe, nutritious, sustainable, and value-added products
Food Safety and Microbiology
Studies pathogenic, beneficial (probiotic and fermentative), and spoilage microbes and their interaction with food and the host, and develops novel inactivation and detection methods for pathogens
Dr. Bruce R. Hamaker 
Dr. Weicang Wang FACULTY BY RESEARCH AREA
- Thaisa Cantu-Jungles tcantuju@purdue.edu
- Da Chen chen3370@purdue.edu
- Bruce R. Hamaker hamkerb@purdue.edu
- Owen Jones joneso@purdue.edu
- Andrea Liceaga aliceaga@purdue.edu
- Lisa J. Mauer mauerl@purdue.edu
- Lavanya Reddivari lreddiva@purdue.edu
- Senay Simsek ssimsek@purdue.edu
- Weicang Wang wang6205@purdue.edu
- Yuan Yao yao1@purdue.edu
- Arun K. Bhunia bhunia@purdue.edu
- Thaisa Cantu-Jungles tcantuju@purdue.edu
- Yaohua “Betty” Feng yfengchi@purdue.edu
- Bruce R. Hamaker hamakerb@purdue.edu
- Kee-Hong Kim kim618@purdue.edu
- Andrea Liceaga aliceaga@purdue.edu
- Stephen Lindemann lindemann@purdue.edu
- Lisa J. Mauer mauerl@purdue.edu
- Eun Joong Oh oh263@purdue.edu
- Lavanya Reddivari lreddiva@purdue.edu
- Fernanda San Martin fsanmartin@purdue.edu
- Senay Simsek ssimsek@purdue.edu
- Weicang Wang wang6205@purdue.edu
- Bruce M. Applegate applegab@purdue.edu
- Patnarin Benyathiar pbenyath@purdue.edu
- Christian E. Butzke cbutzke@purdue.edu
- Da Chen chen3370@purdue.edu
- Hanyu Chen chen5333@purdue.edu
- Carlos M. Corvalan corvalac@purdue.edu
- Jen-Yi Huang huang874@purdue.edu
- Dharmendra Mishra mishradh@purdue.edu
- Haley F. Oliver hfoliver@purdue.edu
- Fernanda San Martin fsanmartin@purdue.edu
- Deandrae Smith smit4870@purdue.edu
- Yuan Yao yao1@purdue.edu
- Bruce M. Applegate applegab@purdue.edu
- Patnarin Benyathiar pbenyath@purdue.edu
- Arun K. Bhunia bhunia@purdue.edu
- Amanda Deering adeering@purdue.edu
- Yaohua “Betty” Feng yfengchi@purdue.edu
- Stephen Lindemann lindemann@purdue.edu
- Dharmendra Mishra mishradh@purdue.edu
- Eun Joong Oh oh263@purdue.edu
- Haley F. Oliver-Jischke hfoliver@purdue.edu
- Deandrae Smith smit4870@purdue.edu
Dr. Lisa Mauer’s research is aimed at improving the delivery of thiamin in food products. Their goals are to identify all factors that impact the stability of thiamin in food products (including those containing whole and refined wheat, rice, and corn) from production to storage, and to determine if new, more stable, salt forms of thiamin can be produced. 
Dr. Jen-Yi Huang Senay Simsek, Department Head
ssimsek@purdue.edu | 765.494.8256 | 745 Agriculture Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Botany and Plant Pathology