Recognition and Awards
In a graduating senior survey that the University conducted for “Satisfaction with your major” from 2003-2005 the Food Science Department, ranked 4th out of all Departments (56) in the University. We also ranked first in 3 of the 7 categories used to calculate “satisfaction”.
Science Watch, an independent Newsletter tracing trends and performances in basic research ranked the University of Massachusetts seventh, worldwide, in Agricultural Research and attributed this ranking to Food Science. In addition, of the 25 most highly cited authors in Agricultural Sciences worldwide, Dr. Julian McClements ranked 8th and Dr. Eric Decker 24th.
Dr. Kalidas Shetty along with Dr. Sallie Smith Schneider have applied for the first patent from the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute on treating breast cancer with plant chemicals.
Dr. Eric Decker who was the recipient of two IFT Awards; the Stephen S. Chang Award for Lipid Science and the Research and Development. Receiving two awards is a rare occurrence as it has only happened twice before in the 60 year history of the IFT. Eric was also honored by his appointment to the National Academies Committee on Nutritional Standards for Food in Schools.
Dr. McClements was awarded the American Chemical Society, Agriculture and Food Chemistry Division, Advancement of Agriculture and Food Chemistry Award.
Dr. Micha Peleg was named an ISI Highly Cited Researcher.
Dr. Jochen Weiss served on the FY2006 USDA National Needs Graduate Fellowship Peer Review Panel, July 10-12 in Washington.
Dr. Herb Hultin was named the Sixth Donald D. Hamann Lecturer by N.C. State University Department of Food Science and the North Carolina Chapter of Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society.
Dr Micha Peleg authored a new book entitled “Advanced Quantitative Microbiology for Food and Biosystems.”
Dr. Shetty was the lead Editor of a new book “Food Biotechnology” (co-edited by Dr. Levin), which at 1,982 pages is the major source in the field and an upcoming book on Functional Foods also with Dr. Levin as a co-editor.
Our students had a wonderfully successful year in obtaining awards and scholarships being awarded a majority of the NEIFT Scholarships (6 of 9) at the Annual NEIFT Foods and Biotechnology also with Dr. Levin as a co-editor.
Our students shone at the National level with 4 students receiving of 20 National IFT Awards . The largest number of any University.
Andres Rodriguez received First Place in the Developing Scientist Competition at the International Association for Food Protection held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, August, 2006.
Sarah Kellerby and Wilailuk Chaiyasit were selected by the American Oil Chemist Society (AOCS), as recipients of the AOCS Honored Student Award.
Caitlin Boon received a University Fellowship (the only one in our College) and Caitlin Boon and Michael Terk were the recipients of the Lotta M. Crabtree Fellowship in Agriculture from CNRE.
Ms. Erica Mains, one of our seniors, was selected as one of four graduation student speakers for the College Graduation Ceremony held on Saturday, May 27, 2006 and Jessica Kornbluh and Caitlin Trahan, 2 seniors served on the CNRE Leadership Council.
Mr. Shishan Wang, a graduate student was the recipient of the Charm Excellence in Science Award.
We had some 41 new or active grants from a wide variety of sources including 3 new USDA NRI grants and one from the American Heart Association. Dr Fergus Clydesdale was Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology, 2006.
Fifty percent of our undergraduate students were on the Dean’s List the past year.
Our Fellowship Endowment Campaign is going extremely well. We have about $800,000 ably boosted by further pledges from our Advisory Board and from an endowed Minority Fellowship in Health and Wellness from the Pepsico Foundation for $167,000. This Pepsico pledge along with State matches will give us $250,000, the amount for a single fellowship and help us in or commitment to diversity.
Dr. Julian McClements received a most well deserved promotion to Professor this year.
Dr. Shetty was selected as one of only twelve faculty members to be recognized at the first annual Fall Faculty Convocation held Friday, September 16 at for research and creative activity that has achieved national and/or international recognition in recent years.
President Wilson has announced that a proposal “Food Solutions: Food-Based Solutions to Health and Wellness” submitted by Drs. Jochen Weiss and Julian McClements (Co-Directors) and Drs. Eric Decker and Yeonhwa Park (Associate Directors) was selected, as only one of three on campus, to receive a UMass President’s Science and Technology Fund award in the amount of $100,000.
Under the leadership of Dr. Lynne McLandsborough we were awarded an equipment grant from CNRE for matching funds for a $95,000 Atomic Force microscope which will allow many of our faculty to raise their research capabilities another significant notch and make us the first Food Science department in the country to have such equipment.
Dr. Bob Levin’s research on a PCR technique which screens for live bacteria in the presence of dead bacteria was featured on the UMass home page.
Jean Alamed, one of our outstanding staff, received a CNRE Outstanding Staff Award this year.
We had two an outstanding Symposia, one held June 9 and 10 and organized by Dr. Eric Decker, entitled “Developing Functional Foods with Omega-3 Fatty Acids”. The workshop brought speakers from around the globe to give papers and provided a basis for an in-depth discussion of the nutritional benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, methods of stabilization and examples of successful incorporation into foods. The second was organized by Dr. McClements and held October 26-28. This Symposium on Food Emulsions also featured national and international speakers. It presented the basic principles, concepts and techniques of emulsion science, and showed how this information can help to understand, predict and control the properties of food products and ingredients. The attendance at both Symposia was outstanding.
Have you ever wondered how much influence our Department at the University of Massachusetts has had upon the IFT Presidency? Be sure to check out the article by emeritus Professor Jack Francis (and former IFT President) in the January 2005 edition of Food Technology: http://www.ift.org/cms/?pid=1001187
Dr. Kalidas Shetty named as one of five Jefferson Science Fellows to advise the U.S. State Department on scientific issues as related to international diplomacy. Read more:http://www.umass.edu/nre/yearinreview/kalidas_shetty.html
Dr. Fergus Clydesdale, the Food Science Department Head, served as a member of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee. Read more: http://www.umassmag.com/Winter_2005/A_Spoonful_of_Sugar_816.html
Dr. Eric Decker’s work with stabilization of Omega-3 fatty acids was featured in the Winter 2005 UMass Amherst Magazine. Read more: http://www.umassmag.com/Winter_2005/Algae_a_la_Mode_827.html
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