President

After a rewarding career working in brewing science and beverage Quality Assurance, Dan Neuner came to Rutgers for his MS to advance his expertise in Organoleptics and Organic Chemistry. Dan earned his BA in Fine Arts Photography in 2011 from the University of Rochester. His research focuses on volatile sulfur compounds in plants, and he is especially interested in advanced instrumentation. Outside of school, Dan enjoys home distilling, spending quality time with his pets, and record collecting. Dan's favorite foods are spicey street foods, which evolved from family traditions, and from hours of watching Anthony Bourdain champion street food as the ultimate expression of a culture’s identity, soul, and community.

VP Internal

Molly Goodwin is currently pursuing her M.S. in Food Science. She conducts research under Dr. Loredana Quadro, focusing on characterizing the metabolic phenotype that results from cardiomyocyte specific inhibition of retinoic acid signaling. She earned her BS in Chemistry from Binghamton University in May 2025. Outside of academics she enjoys the Winter Olympic Sport of Curling and collecting rocks. Her favorite food is soup especially Matzo Ball Soup and Pho.

VP External

Chris Wippich received his Bachelors in Food Science from Rutgers University. He is currently working on his MBS in Applied Food Science and Technology. He has won several awards such as the Chancellor’s Leadership Award and Lloyd K. Riggs Scholarship Award. In his free time, he enjoys reading novels and cooking various dishes. His favorite food is currently a Cuban sandwich.

Secretary

Andrea Cerrato Castellanos earned her bachelor’s degree in Food Science from the National University of Agriculture (UNAG) in Honduras and her Master of Science in Food Science from Louisiana State University (LSU). She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Food Science at Rutgers University. Andrea’s research focuses on predictive food microbiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment, with an emphasis on the growth and enterotoxin production of Staphylococcus aureus in meat products under extended come-up time conditions. Her scientific interests include food microbiology, predictive modeling, food safety, and risk assessment. Andrea is I am proud of serving in student leadership roles and pursuing graduate education in the United States after beginning her journey in Honduras. Her favorite food is Baleadas. In her free time she enjoys painting and listening to podcasts.

Treasurer

Daniel Burd is currently pursuing an MBS in Applied Food Science & Technology at Rutgers University. In 2026, he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and previously served as Treasurer of the Undergraduate Food Science Club. He currently works with Dr. Yam and his laboratory on the research and development of food packaging technologies. In the future, Daniel hopes to contribute to innovative technologies that improve food quality, safety, and sustainability. Outside of college, Daniel is interested in audio and music production, computers, hockey, and of course, cooking! His favorite food is Chicken Chettinad.

Marketing

Chenxin (Valerie) Wang is a PhD student at Rutgers University focusing on food chemistry. After finishing her Master degree at University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign, Chenxin is very interested in structures of compounds in natural products and their sensory profiles in food products and came to Rutgers working with Dr. Wu.Outside of research in lab, Chenxin recently got into hiking and trying to improve her photography skills. Her favorite food is NOODLES, especially ramen.

Operations Manager

Hello! I'm Danny Miller, an MS student in the Food Science program. I graduated from Pace University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I am currently a member of Dr. Roopchand's lab investigating plant-based remedies to Lyme disease. My hobbies include cooking, playing and watching basketball and fighting games. My favorite food is Buffalo Wings.

Communications and Specials Projects

Srilavanyaa Kathiravan is a Master of Business and Science (MBS) student concentrating in Applied Food Science and Technology. Her scientific interest areas include functional ingredients, with a growing focus on their innovation and commercialization. She joined the program as a Senior Food Technologist, having led product development and commercialization, spanning functional ingredients, spices and beverages. She is also an active IFT volunteer, serving as Secretary of the Nutmeg Section and a member of the NYIFT Marketing Committee. Outside of food science, she enjoys hiking and gardening. And as for her favorite food, she enjoys all kinds of cuisines/food rather than a single favorite.

IFT GSA Representative

Yue Wu is a PhD candidate in the Food Science Department, working under the guidance of Dr. Diana Roopchand. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Food Science from Rutgers University in 2021, where her passion for food science research inspired her to pursue graduate studies. Yue's research focuses on the bioactivity of polyphenol-derived microbial metabolites and their roles in regulating inflammation, metabolism, and gut health. Her scientific interest is food biology. Yue has served as the IFT graduate student representative since 2025 and recently won 3rd Place in the IFT FIRST Nutrition Division Graduate Student Oral Competition for her research on dietary polyphenols and metabolic health. Yue's favorite food is Sushi

President Emeritus

Trina is an M.S. candidate in Food Science with a concentration in Food Chemistry, where she conducts research under Dr. Karen Schaich on the chemical, functional, and allergenic properties of plant seed proteins. She earned a B.S. in Food Science with a minor in Chemistry from Rutgers University and is the recipient of the 2025 NYIFT Graduate Scholarship Award and the James J. Winston Memorial Award for excellence in Food Chemistry. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and developing new flavors for kombucha, ginger beer, and snack products. Her favorite food is bouillabaisse.