Texas A&M University’s Suresh Pillai Named 2024 IFT Fellow, One of the Highest Honors in the Food Science Community

CHICAGO – June 6, 2024 – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, is pleased to announce that Suresh Pillai, PhD, Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Texas A&M University, has been selected as a 2024 IFT Fellow, one of the highest honors bestowed upon a member of the science of food community. Being recognized as an IFT Fellow is a unique professional distinction given to an IFT member who has achieved career excellence in addition to providing significant service and leadership to both IFT and the science of food profession.

Specifically, all nominees must demonstrate professional leadership through leading conferences, presentations, and other training and development programs; service and leadership to external advisory committees or boards; ongoing volunteer service to IFT; honors, awards, and other recognition within the science of food profession, as well as advancements to the science of food in industry, academia, government, or related organizations.

This year’s IFT Fellows will be celebrated at the Fellows Recognition Forum at IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, which is being held July 14-17, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Only 10 IFT members out of more 11,000 received this prestigious recognition this year.

“Firstly, as a university professor, I cherish the unmatched opportunity to contribute to students’ success. Secondly, collaborating with different branches of the US government to mitigate risks associated with cobalt-60 and cesium-137 is another source of profound satisfaction,” said Pillai of the professional accomplishments that helped him receive this distinction.

Pillai joined Texas A&M University in 1992 as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology. In addition to his teaching duties, he serves as the Associate Department Head for Graduate Programs as well as the Director of the National Center for Electron Beam Research. His research focuses on electron beams (eBeams), a non-thermal ionizing technology with multiple food science applications. In May 2024, he was appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Radiation Advisory Board.

Prior to Texas A&M, he worked as an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Arizona in Tucson, before serving as a Research Scientist at the Naval Medical Research Institute and a Research Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, both located in Bethesda, Maryland. He also served on the FDA Science Advisory Board at the National Center for Toxicology Research for four years.

Pillai received his undergraduate degree in Botany and his master’s degree in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Madras in Chennai, India, before receiving his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Arizona. He is a member of IFT’s Food Microbiology Division and Alamo Section. Pillai resides in College Station, Texas.

View the 2024 IFT Fellows.

About Institute of Food Technologists

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a global organization of over 11,000 individual members from more than 90 countries committed to advancing the science of food. Since 1939, IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government, and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges. IFT works to ensure that its members have the resources they need to learn, grow, and innovate to advance the science of food as the population and the world evolve. IFT believes that science and innovation is essential to ensuring a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. For more information, please visit ift.org.

Media Contact

Dennis Van Milligen
Director, Public and Media Relations
Institute of Food Technologists
630-853-3022
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