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Olga I. Padilla-Zakour
Associate Professor
of Food Processing, Director of the New York State Food Venture
Center
Address, Phone, Fax
E-Mail: oip1@cornell.edu
1991 Ph.D. Cornell University
1988 M.S. Cornell University
1983 B.S. University of Costa Rica (UCR)
View Full CV (pdf)
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| Program
Overview |
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Research program focused on applied research to add value and
safety to agricultural commodities with an emphasis on small scale
processing. Adding value means
increasing profitability, improving quality and/or increasing health benefits.
Currently we are developing better processing techniques that increase the value
of plant-based foods. We also study the factors that affect the safety
of specialty foods manufactured by small-scale processors. We are evaluating
current methods to provide comprehensive support to food entrepreneurs to create
an optimized model for university-based centers. The research complements
my extension responsibilities focused on directing a premier program to support
food entrepreneurship in the Northeast by providing comprehensive assistance
to start-up and established food ventures.
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| Links |
| Northeast
Center for Food Entrepreneurship
Venture Center Newsletters
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| Professional
Experience |
| 08/97-06/99 |
Sr.
Extension Associate II - Director of the New York State Food
Venture Center, Cornell University. Coordinate and
develop outreach programs and extension activities to support
new and established entrepreneurs in the food industry. Provide
guidelines and assist in regulatory issues to ensure the
safety of food products. Act as Process Authority to
issue schedule process documentation for new processor’s
licensing requirements. Develop and implement training
programs for food entrepreneurs. |
| 07/95-07/97 |
Research
Chemist, Product Technology, Canandaigua Wine Company. Research
on the chemistry of grapes and other plants while developing
new and improved products and processes to support grape
juice, wine and grape products businesses. Expertise
on grape processing and analytical procedures to quantitate
and identify grape phenolic compounds. |
| 11/94-06/95 |
Temporary
Post-doctoral Position, Cornell University. Projects: Recovery
of Concord grape juice and wine from tank bottoms using enzymes
and ceramic cross-flow microfiltration. Assisting updating
3-volume book "Complete Course in Canning and Related
Processes". Instructor at Better Process Control
School in May 1995. |
| 03/93 & 03/95 |
Instructor
and Translator for Better Process Control
School taught by Cornell University and sponsored
by CINDE and UCR, Costa Rica. |
| 10/91-07/94 |
Associate
Professor, Chemistry Department, Technological Institute
of Costa Rica. Teach undergraduate Chemistry
courses; participate in applied research, extension and
outreach programs related to food industry. |
| 92 to 94 |
Food
Industry Consultant, Costa Rica. Plant inspector
of Costa Rican hearts of palm canning facilities under
Pillsbury contracts. Process design and layout of
a new canning plant for Exporpack S.A. Process design
for a banana puree processing plant for TropiFoods. Processing
recommendations for canning jalapeno peppers and olives
for TransCafe. |
| 1992 |
Adjunct
Professor, Food Technology Program, UCR. Instructor
of Food Processing/ Engineering courses. |
| 08/88-08/91 |
Graduate
Research Assistant, Department of Food Science, NY State
Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University. Conduct
and support research projects on fruit quality and processing. |
| 1985-1986 |
Assistant
Professor, Chemistry Department, Technological Institute
of Costa Rica. Teach undergraduate Chemistry
courses. |
| 1984 |
Plant
Manager, Elfruta S.A., Costa Rica. Oversee
aseptic processing and packaging of tropical fruit purees,
such as banana, mango, papaya and passion fruit, for the
export market. |
| 1983 |
Plant
Supervisor, Elfruta, S.A. |
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| Professional
Activities |
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Professional Societies
- Institute of Food Technologists
(IFT), Professional member
- Institute
of Food Technologists-Division membership - Food Laws and Regulations,
Extension,Fruit and Vegetable Products
- Institute for Thermal Processing
Specialists
- CASA-Niagara Frontier section of the Association of
Food and Drug Officials
Honors, and Awards
- 2004 Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary’s Honor
Award to the Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship (NECFE)
project (Padilla-Zakour is Project leader). These awards
are the most significant recognition the Department can bestow
to acknowledge outstanding contributions to Agriculture, to the
consumers of agricultural products, and to the ability of the
USDA to serve Americans. Washington DC, June 25, 2004
- NECFE was selected to participate in the 6th Annual Food and
Agricultural Science Exhibition – The Land-Grant System:
Science and Education Working for and Serving the Needs of America,
US Senate, sponsored by the National Association of State Universities
and Land Grant Colleges, Washington DC, March 4, 2003
- StudyWeb Excellence Award for the web version of the newsletter “Venture” -
as one of the best educational resources on the web - 1999
- Outstanding contributor to the Small Scale Food Processing
Project (led by the Farming Alternatives group), which received
the CaRDI Innovator Award in 1998
- IFT NY Section National Fellowship for outstanding graduate
students – 1990
- Cornell University Fellowship for Ph.D. studies – 1988
to 1991
- USAID Fellowship for MS studies – 1986 to 1988
- Certificate for Honors Graduation; Honorary Mention for
Graduation Project, UCR – 1983
- Certificate for Best Graduating GPA in the College of Agriculture,
UCR – 1983
- Certificates for Best GPA in the Food Technology
Program and Honors Scholarships, UCR – 1978, 1980, 1981,
1982
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| Current and
Former Graduate Students |
GRADUATE MAJORS
Current
Illeme Bonsi, Ph.D., Food Science, Summer 2008
Joanne Thimothe, Ph.D., Food Science, Summer 2007
Megan Lang, M.S., Food Science, Summer 2008
Passaporn Siricururatana, M.S., Food Science, Summer 2008
Total Completed
Sarah Valois, Ph.D., Food Science, August 2006
Nora Mohd Adzahan, Food Science, PhD, May 2006
Illeme Bonsi, M.S., Food Science, August 2005
Sasitorn Chantanawarangoon, PhD, Food Science, May 2005
Sarah Valois, M.S., Food Science, August 2003
Melissa Mundo, M.S., Food Science, August 2002
GRADUATE MINORS
Current
Melissa Mundo, Ph.D., Food Science, February 2006
I-Yuan Chiang, Ph.D., Food Science, 2007
Gregory Louis Hostetler, M.S., Horticulture Science, August
2006
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| Current
and Former Postdoctoral and Visiting Scientists |
Dr. Kawaljit Tandon, May 2001
to May 2005, last year as Research Associate
Dr. Dae-Ok
Kim, February 2003 to July 2004
Dr. Hassen Nasri, August 2000 to
July 2001
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