Dr. Tatiana Koutchma is a Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Before she joined the AAFC, she was a Research Associate Professor at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST) at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. She received her doctoral degree in Food Process Engineering from the Moscow State University of Food Production. Since 1990, she had successful international experience in Russia, USA, and Canada working in academia and government research programs in emerging food processing technologies. In the last 18 years, her main research focus and interest was application of innovative technologies such as UV light, microwave heating, and high hydrostatic pressure for improved food safety, security, shelf-life, and product acceptability. She initiated research programs on UV light for food preservation and was actively involved in core functions associated with R&D, process design, and validation of this technology for the food industry. Also, she contributed to the approvals of a number of international regulatory submissions on UV applications for foods, milk, and ingredients. Dr. Koutchma is a graduate faculty at the University of Guelph, Chair Elect of Nonthermal Processing Division (NPD) of IFT, Canadian Ambassador in Global Harmonization Initiative (GHI). She is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Food Process Engineering and Food Science and Technology International. Dr. Koutchma is an author for four books on UV light for foods, 10+ book chapters, and 70+ peer-reviewed publications. She is an invited speaker of numerous international venues and delivers training for industry and government professionals. As a contributing author to "FoodOnline" and "MeatingPlace," Dr. Koutchma is an active promoter of non-thermal processing technologies to the professional community.
