Nutrition and Food Sciences News
Ph.D. Student Tharindu Trishan Dapana Durage Earns Multiple National Honors in 2025
Tharindu Trishan Dapana Durage, a first-year Ph.D. student in Nutrition and Food Sciences, is making waves in the field of gut microbiome research. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Ezgi Ozcan in the MinD Gut Lab, his research focuses on gut microbiome-brain interactions in neurodegenerative diseases. In just the first half of 2025, Durage earned an impressive array of accolades: • First Place in the Phi Tau Sigma Research Competition for graduate students and postdoctoral members • Second Place in the IFT InFoodrafic: A Global Infographic Competition • Second Place in the IFT Carbohydrate Division Hackathon • Third Place in the IFT Graduate Student Oral Competition (Aquatic Food Products Division) at IFT FIRST 2025 As team captain, Durage also led LSU entries in two major product development competitions: • The IFT MARS Product Development Competition • The IFT Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Product Development Competition Both teams advanced to the final stage, earning two travel grants. His innovation was featured live on Fox32 Good Day Chicago during IFT FIRST 2025. Durage's academic excellence and leadership have also been recognized through several prestigious scholarships and awards, including: • IFT Feeding Tomorrow IFTSA Travel Scholarship • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Love of Learning Award • Ruth Patrick, PhD Human Nutrition and Food Sciences Scholarship (2025-2026) • Larry and Barbara Chachere Endowed Scholarship (2025-2026) • Veralto Scholarship for Excellence in STEM by oSTEM • Point Access Scholarship from the Point Foundation, awarded for academic excellence, leadership potential, and impact in the LGBTQ+ community Durage's achievements reflect his dedication to advancing nutrition science and his commitment to leadership and innovation. The School of Nutrition and Food Sciences is proud to celebrate his success.
International Conference: Co-Products
Dr. Giovanna M. Aita, adjunct professor (and former PhD graduate) in the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, attended the ISSCT Pre-Congress and XXXIII Centennial Congress held in Cali, Colombia, from August 21-28. The International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT) is a global association of scientists, technologists, managers, institutions, and companies dedicated to advancing the cane sugar industry and its co-products. As Chair of the Co-Products Section, Dr. Aita delivered a presentation titled "Polyphenols-derived nanoparticles: antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties." A microbiologist by training, she is at the forefront of efforts to replace petroleum-based fuels and chemicals with sustainable alternatives derived from biomass. Her research addresses both technical and economic challenges while prioritizing environmental sustainability. Dr. Aita has led pioneering efforts in the bioconversion of agricultural and woody residues, as well as low-value process by-products, into platform chemicals, nutritional supplements, and antimicrobial biomaterials. Her areas of expertise include biomass pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, antimicrobials, and nanomaterials.
LSU Undergraduate Research Fair
The School of Nutrition and Food Sciences team recently welcomed incoming LSU freshmen students to the 2025 Undergraduate Research Fair. This event was attended by our school's faculty, current students and incoming freshmen as a way to showcase undergraduate research that took place.
Evelyn Watts: Living the Louisiana Land-Grant Mission
Dr. Evelyn Watts, Seafood Extension Specialist at LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, leads efforts to help small-scale seafood businesses thrive. Through the Seafood Processing Demonstration Lab, she and the lab team provide training, equipment access, and market development support. Their work focuses on creating both innovative seafood products and consumer demand, strengthening local economies and empowering fishermen.
Exploring the Gut-Brain Connection: Mina Ali Presents at SURF 2025
Mina Ali, an undergraduate student in the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, presented a poster and gave a lightning talk at the Summer Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) on August 1, 2025. Mina shared results from her LSU OUR project grant, which explored how dietary lipids impact the gut microbiome. As a researcher in Dr. Ezgi Özcan's MinD-Gut Lab, Mina had the opportunity to connect with fellow scientists from across Louisiana and explain the dynamic relationship between diet, microbiota, and brain function. She captured the audience's imagination by saying, "Imagine the Inside Out movie characters in Riley's head living in your gut." Her research contributes to a growing understanding of the gut-brain axis and how nutrition can influence both physical and mental health. Learn more about SURF: LSU Summer Undergraduate Research Forum https://www.lsu.edu/our/events/surf-summer-undergraduate-research-forum.php
Watts Receives Grace Drews Lehman Professorship to Advance Seafood Research and Extension
Dr. Evelyn Watts, associate professor in the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences and seafood extension specialist, has been named the recipient of the Grace Drews Lehman Professorship in Human Ecology. Watts leads research and outreach efforts at the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant Seafood Processing Demonstration Lab, focusing on seafood safety, quality, and innovation. The professorship was established to support agricultural research and the development of new technologies that benefit teaching, research, and extension in the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences. The fund was created by Howell to honor her close childhood friend, Grace Drews Lehman, who was stricken with polio just before the vaccine became available. Despite living much of her life in an iron lung and a rocking bed, Lehman remained a radiant and loving presence. "She was truly remarkable," Howell shared. "Whenever we went to see that young lady, she was never without a smile" (LSU Cornerstone Summer/Fall 2014, https://issuu.com/lsufoundation/docs/cornerstone_summerfall_2014).
Our Nutrition Undergraduate Fahmina Ali Receives the Office of Undergraduate Research Project Grant to Conduct Research on Effects of Dietary Lipids on Microbiota and brain
Fahmina "Mina" Ali, an undergraduate senior with a concentration in dietetics, and a microbiome science researcher in Dr. Ezgi Özcan's MinD-Gut lab received project grant funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research to conduct research on "Elucidating the Effects of Dietary Lipids on Gut Microbiome and Neuroinflammation". The purpose of these grants is to provide students a learning opportunity through participation in faculty-mentored projects. Full-time LSU undergraduate students can receive funding for hourly wages, supplies, and travel related to research. The MinD-Gut Lab studies how microbes and diet interact to influence the connection between the gut and the brain. Trillions of microbes live in our body, and they actively interact with our nervous system. What we eat affects how these microbes communicate with our body and brain. Mina is using techniques such as DNA extraction, microbiome sequencing, lipidomics, and ELISA to connect dietary lipids metabolism by microorganisms in our gut to inflammation in the brain-a common cause of cognitive decline. Mina will be presenting a poster and give a lightening talk at the LSU Summer Undergraduate Research Forum on Friday, August 1st, 2025. https://www.lsu.edu/our/funding/index.php
LSU PhD Student Pratiksha Shrestha Named Finalist in Prestigious IFTSA Research Video Competition
Pratiksha Shrestha, a PhD student in the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, has been recognized as one of the top three finalists in the 2025 IFTSA Research Video Competition, hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and sponsored by Campden BRI, a global leader in food research and innovation. Pratiksha's video showcased her research in Dr. Kharel's Food Safety and Microbiology Lab, where she is developing antibacterial nanocomposite films to mitigate post-process contamination in packaged, ready-to-eat low-moisture foods. Her work emphasizes the critical role of food safety in protecting public health and demonstrates the real-world impact of innovative food science. This recognition highlights Pratiksha's dedication to advancing food safety through cutting-edge materials science and her ability to communicate complex research in an accessible and compelling format.
Edible Coating Innovation Earns LSU Student First Place at IFT Annual Event
Chien-I Hsu, a PhD candidate in the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, earned first place in the Graduate Student Oral Competition (Fruit & Vegetable Products Division) at the 2025 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) First Annual Event & Expo held in Chicago, IL. His award-winning presentation, "Effect of Rosemary Oil-Incorporated L-Arginine Cross-Linked Carboxymethylcellulose Edible Coating on Microbial Safety and Storage Stability of Cantaloupe Under Cold Storage," impressed judges with its scientific rigor, practical relevance, and engaging delivery. The competition drew nearly 100 graduate student submissions from top universities and research institutions worldwide. As a finalist, Chien-I competed against outstanding doctoral candidates from institutions including Cornell University and the University of Guelph, ultimately earning the top honor. This achievement highlights Chien-I's commitment to addressing critical postharvest food safety challenges through innovative edible coating technologies. His research has promising applications for improving produce safety, extending shelf life, and reducing food waste--key issues in the global food supply chain. Chien-I extends his gratitude to Dr. Sam Sathivel for research guidance and resources, Dr. Witoon Prinyawiwatkul for support in refining the presentation, and his lab members for their encouragement throughout the process.
Dr. Witoon Prinyawiwatkul received the 2025 AgExcellence Legacy Educator Award
Dr. Witoon Prinyawiwatkul received the 2025 AgExcellence Legacy Educator Award. The Legacy Educator Award recognizes a tenured faculty member at LSU who has exhibited a sustained program of excellence as measured by significant contributions to their field. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/articles/page1745950663564