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Graduate Research Assistant
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
I am Melissa Pérez, Food Science Master’s Student at UF under the guidance of Dr. Andrew MacIntosh in the Food Processing Laboratory. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Economics and International Finance, and Bachelor of Engineering in Agroindustrial Production Engineering at the University of La Sabana in Colombia, where I was first introduced to the world of the High Oleic Palm Oil. This is the protagonist of my current research, I am assessing the effect of processing on the quality and functional properties of the oil with a focus on baking applications. My goal is to contribute to the wellbeing of people, and one of the best resources to generate progress is food.
In 2017 I presented a calcium-fortified snack development project at the IFT17; I was a finalist at the IUFoST contest Food Science Students Fighting Hunger in 2018. This year I was part of a finalist group in the Product Development Competition of the American Society of Baking.
For 5 years, singing in the university choir, I acquired experience around teamwork, discipline and tolerance to failure. Thus, learning that the stairway to success is a combination of life experiences, and the knowledge you gain from them.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Lipid Oxidation and Sustainability: Influence on Food Waste and Packaging
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PST