Graduate Student Profile - Kevin David Rodriguez Maldonado

Kevin David Rodriguez Maldonado successfully defended his M.S. thesis on April 22, 2025. Kevin is originally from Honduras where he obtained his bachelor's degree from Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School. 

Kevin's thesis was entitled, "Characterization and mitigation of fouling in thermal processing of milk and its plant-based alternatives." His research focused on fouling formation, one of the primary challenges dairy industries face, as it reduces heat transfer efficiency, increases pressure drop and compromises product quality and safety. To combat this, microbubbles were incorporated into a thermal process
as a self-cleaning agent, effectively reducing the fouling formation for milk. 

Kevin's advisor was Jen-Yi Huang. Other members of his graduate committee included Carlos Corvalan and Osvaldo Campanella.

Kevin says he was drawn to Purdue Food Science after completing an undergraduate internship in the department through Zamorano University. "I chose Purdue University because of its strong reputation and graduate program. My experience as an intern with Dr. Bruce Applegate and later as a visiting scholar in Dr. Huang’s lab gave me a preview of Purdue’s supportive and innovative culture, solidifying my decision to pursue my graduate studies here."

During his time as a graduate student, Kevin was involved in the Association of Zamorano Alumni at Purdue.

For his next giant leap, Kevin will launch his career with Torito Brands as a quality technician in Tallahassee, Florida. Congratulations, Kevin! We wish you all the best!