People
Members of the Food Science research group.
Academic staff
Prof Ling Zhi Cheong
Her research interest includes enzyme technology, bioprocess technology, lipid chemistry and physics, biodetection and biosensing. She collaborates actively with academics and industries (enzyme, food and oleochemical industries) to develop green and sustainable bioprocesses for production of functional and healthful lipids; and investigate the digestibility and metabolic fate of these healthful lipids. Ling Zhi is also interested in developing various methods for sensing of contaminants and oxidative products in food lipids.
lingzhi.cheong@unimelb.edu.au +61383445864A/Prof Kate Howell
Kate Howell is a microbiologist and biochemist. Her key interest is how microbial interactions and ecology in agricultural and food systems can impact the flavour, aroma, function and health properties of food.
khowell@unimelb.edu.au +61393053119A/Prof Said Ajlouni
Said Ajlouni’s principal research interests are in food safety and functionality, with special emphases on the effect of various processing and preservation techniques on safety, microbial, quality and physio-chemical properties of foods. Research topics cover the mode of action of probiotics, prebiotics and functional food ingredients, including natural antioxidants and fibres.
said@unimelb.edu.auA/Prof Zhongxiang Fang
Zhongxiang Fang is a food scientist. His research interests include mechanisms of food processing and preservation on food quality and safety; food active compounds like polyphenols, peptides and polysaccharides; encapsulation, active packaging and edible coating; and emerging food technology.
zhongxiang.fang@unimelb.edu.au +61383445063A/Prof Ken Ng
Ken Ng is a biochemist with a key interest in the chemistry and biochemistry of plant secondary metabolites such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, with a focus on their health properties in relation to their ability to inhibit or modulate key enzymes in diabetes, Alzheimer’s diseases and oxidative stress.
ngkf@unimelb.edu.au +61390353141Dr Pangzhen Zhang
Pangzhen Zhang is a viticulturist and biochemist. His key research interest is to study plant secondary metabolites that contribute to the sensory attributes of food and wine, and their influence on human health. He studies grapevine rootstock, root-soil-microbe interaction, and their impact on sensory important grape metabolites. He investigates the biochemistry of natural molecules in food, their carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic effect and regulatory effect on antibiotic resistant bacteria.
pangzhen.zhang@unimelb.edu.au +61383446890A/Prof Senaka Ranadheera
Senaka Ranadheera is a food scientist and his research interests focus on probiotics and prebiotic food applications. Along with his research, Senaka is passionate about science communication.
senaka.ranadheera@unimelb.edu.au +61390355836A/Prof Hafiz Suleria
Hafiz Suleria has a major research focus on food science and nutrition particularly in functional foods and nutraceuticals, screening of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds from different plants, marine and animal sources. His research interest includes extraction, isolation, purification and characterization of novel bioactive compounds using advanced analytical tools followed by their in vitro, in vivo, cell culture-based bioactivities and animal studies.
hafiz.suleria@unimelb.edu.au +61383444984Postdocs and research fellows
Dr Sophie Selby-Pham
Sophie Selby-Pham is a food chemist and biochemist. Her key interest is optimising the health benefits of bioactives in food.
s.selby@unimelb.edu.au