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Department of Food Science

Graduate Student Association

Officers

Matthew Luke Tanoei Husada

Matthew Luke Tanoei Husada
Candidate: MBS
Advisor:
mlt145@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

President

Matthew Luke Tanoei Husada is a current graduate student on the MBS program with Rutgers University with a concentration in Food Science. He finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science with Washington State University and embarked on his professional career as a regulatory specialist with one of the biggest beef jerky companies in the pacific northwest working intensively with USDA and FDA agents on a daily basis. Woes of pandemic happened in 2020 forced him to go back to Indonesia where he then was hired as a Sr. QC/ QA and Sr. Production Supervisor for one of the most famous restaurant chains in Indonesia and as a product manager on one of the rising startups in Indonesia with a focus on enriching and bringing Indonesian natural resources to the world.

Throughout his career and studies, Matthew has a competitive nature which is proven through participation and winning results in national and international competitions. One of many such achievements is winning the IFT product development competition sponsored by DDW Natural Color House in 2016 where the team placed 1st. Currently Matthew is running a catering service based in the Seattle area where they serve homemade Indonesian food to fellow Indonesian who missed their country and people who want to taste new cuisine.

Fun fact: Love cats but are allergic to them.

Hayley Palmer

Hayley Palmer
Candidate: MS
Advisor: Dr. Roopchand
hayley.palmer@rutgers.edu

Vice President

Hi! My name is Hayley Palmer. My undergraduate degree is in Food Science from the University of California, Davis. I have spent the last few years working in quality and regulatory roles in the food industry. I am a second year graduate student working in Dr. Roopchand's lab. My research is focused on foods for human health. I plan to return to industry when I graduate, and am passionate about creating food that is nutritious and sustainable. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, and spending time outside.

Trina Baptista

Trina Baptista
Candidate: MS
Advisor: Dr. Schaich
trinatn@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

Secretary

Hi, my name is Trina Baptista. I completed my B.S. in Food Science with a minor in Chemistry from Rutgers University. In having an amazing academic experience, I wanted to continue my M.S. degree in Food Science at Rutgers working with Dr. Schaich. My thesis research is on the characterization of chemical and functional properties of plant proteins produced in NJ. Currently, I work as a Product Development intern at Allen Flavors. This internship has broadened my understanding of the industry field and bridged the gaps from my academic experience while having fun creating new beverage products. Additionally, I am a Teacher Assistant for Dr. Ponnusamy's Food as Medicine course. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and developing new flavors for my kombucha and ginger beer. Looking forward to an exciting year!

Brianna R. LiBrizz

Brianna R. LiBrizz
Candidate: PhD
Advisor: Dr. Tepper
brl59@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

Treasurer

Brianna R. LiBrizzi completed her Bachelor of Science in Food Science with a concentration in Operations and Management in 2021 and obtained a Master of Science in Food Microbiology in 2023 at the University of Delaware. Her thesis was titled "Analysis of a Decontamination Method Using Ultraviolet Light to Inactivate Salmonella on Alfalfa Sprouts". During the pursuit of her M.S., Brianna co-authored two publications (International Journal of Food Microbiology, Volume 384 and Food Control, Volume 151). Currently, Brianna is a Ph.D. student in Dr. Beverly Tepper's Sensory Lab. Once she completes her Ph.D., she plans on obtaining an MBS in Personal Care Science from Rutgers University. Throughout her studies, she has worked in the personal care industry. At the age of 13, she began working in technical services for her father's company, Creative Solutions and Development, LLC. Brianna began formulating when she worked for IPS Labs, LLC in 2015. While pursuing her BS at the University of Delaware, she was employed by ACT Solutions Corp, a personal care formulations lab, for two years.

Chenge (Holly) Wang

Chenge (Holly) Wang
Candidate: PhD
Advisor: Dr. Schaich
cw904@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

IFT Representative

Hey there, I am Chenge Wang, or Holly, currently in the 4th year of my PhD, working in Dr. Schaich's lab to explore lipid oxidation mechanisms using GC and HPLC, also a Teaching Assistant for General Biology. I received a B.S. degree in both Food Science and Nutritional Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During undergrad, I enthusiastically engaged in product development competitions and the research competition hosted by IFT. With access to both national resources and local opportunities, IFT has magnificently enriched my academic life. Ready to dive into the awesomeness of IFT with you!

Apoorva Nimse

Apoorva Nimse
Candidate: MS
Advisor:
Apoorva.Nimse@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

HUGs Chair

Apoorva Nimse is an aspiring Food Science graduate student with a strong passion for chocolate and sustainability in the food industry. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Food Technology from MIT ADT University, India in 2023, where her final year capstone project was on "Developing Millet-based Curry Leaf Nachos". This project was awarded first prize in the paper presentation competition at a National level conference. After interning in different roles at both major companies like Ferrero and emerging startups, she has found her passion in product development and innovation. She is also interested in learning more about leveraging technology like data and AI to solve problems in the food industry.
Currently, Apoorva is pursuing her Master's in Food Science at Rutgers University and looks forward to combining her academic knowledge with real-world experiences in research and development. In her free time, she enjoys writing music, singing, and spending time in nature or a quiet cafe.

Jeffrey Douyere

Jeffrey Douyere
Candidate: MS
Advisor: Dr. Tepper

GRIBS Chair

Hi! I'm Jeffrey Douyere, a second-year M.S. student in the food science program. I earned my B.A. in Biochemistry from Earlham College, which I completed in 2021. Prior to pursuing my Master's degree, I gained valuable experience as a Food Safety Specialist at Ingredion. Currently, I am a member of Dr. Roopchand's lab where my research is centered around the estrobolome and the utilization of substrate specific enzymes capable of deconjugating estrogens. In addition, I also serve as a Teaching Assistant for the Biological Research Laboratory course. After graduation I aspire to contribute to the food industry while exploring my other research interests. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy cooking, playing soccer, going to the gym, and listening to music.

Eric Chan

Eric Chan
Candidate:
Advisor:
ec901@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

Social Media Chair

Eric Chan is a current non-degree student planning to transfer to the food science graduate program soon. After receiving his bachelor's degree in food science in 2023, he decided to continue his studies while conducting research under Dr Yam on food packaging. Eric has had prior experience in product development as an intern at Mondelez International, and as a finalist in the Rutgers Global fat sandwich competition for creating a ramen sandwich. He was also the social media chair for the undergraduate food science club and designed the logo for the new club t-shirt. In his spare time Eric likes to make memes, compose music, and refer to himself in the third person when writing a bio.