Principal Investigator
Haibo Huang, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Food Science and Technology
Department of Biological Systems Engineering (affiliated)
Macromolecules Innovation Institute (affiliated)
Virginia Tech
Education
Ph.D., Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013
M.S., Biological Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2009
B.S., Biosystems Engineering (specialized in Agricultural Electrical Engineering), Zhejiang University, 2007
Selected Awards and Honors
Mid-Career Research Award, AgInnovation, 2026
New Holland Young Researcher Award, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), 2023
Early Career Award, Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers (AOCABFE), 2022
Current Members
Xuanbo Liu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.S., China Agricultural University
B.S., China Agricultural University
Hongchen Shen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Ph.D., George Washington University
M.S., Tianjin University
B.S., Tianjin University
Wenxing Liu, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Ph.D., The Catholic University of America
M.S., Tianjin Medical University
B.S., Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Hyukjin (John) Kwon, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Ph.D., Kansas State University
M.S., Sejong University
B.S., University of California Berkeley
Jung Mun (Journey) Yang
Ph.D. Candidate
M.S., University of Missouri
B.S., Utah State University
Fujunzhu Zhao
Ph.D. Candidate
M.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
B.S., Pennsylvania State University
Ruoshi Xiao
Ph.D. Student
M.S., Kansas State University
B.S., Wuhan Polytechnic University
Shuo Jiang
Ph.D. Student (co-advised with Dr. David Kuhn)
M.S., Zhejiang University
B.S., Northeast Agricultural University
Lihong Yang
Ph.D. Student (co-advised with Dr. Yiming Feng)
B.E., Jiangnan University
B.S., Massey University (dual degree program)
Sirui Chen
Ph.D. Student
M.S., Jiangnan University
B.S., Jiangnan University
Tasrova Sultana
Ph.D. Student (co-advised with Dr. Yun Yin)
B.S., Bangladesh Agricultural University
M.S., Bangladesh Agricultural University
Alumni
Our alumni have continued their careers across academia, national laboratories, and industry. Their career paths reflect the interdisciplinary training and broad professional opportunities associated with food and bioprocess engineering.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Xueqian Su, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate, 2022–2023
Next: Sr. Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
John Wu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate, 2019–2022
Next: Associate Research Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Joshua O'Hair, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate, 2019–2021
Next: Assistant Professor, Tennessee State University
Yiming Feng, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate, 2018–2021
Next: Assistant Professor, Cal Poly · Current: Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech
Ph.D. Student
Zhiyuan (Zane) Xu
Ph.D. Student, 2022–2026
Next: Postdoctoral Researcher, UC Davis
Yilin (Mico) Li
Ph.D. Student, 2021–2025 · Postdoc, 2025–2026
Next: Postdoctoral Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley Lab
Qing Jin, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Student 2016–2020 · Postdoc 2020–2023
Next: Assistant Professor, University of Maine
Dajun (Daisy) Yu, Ph.D.
Ph.D. 2018–2022 · M.S. 2016–2018
Next: Scientist, Finless Foods Inc. · Current: Research Scientist, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC)
Yanhong (Ellen) He, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Student, 2017–2021
Next: Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell University · Current: Assistant Professor, Kansas State University
M.S. Student
Dacia Ringo
M.S. Student, 2024–2026
Next: Scientist, BASF Agriculture Inc.
Jordan Allen
MS Student, 2021–2023
Next: Senior Chemist, Ingredion Inc.
Nicholas Poe
MS Student, 2017–2019
Current: Pilot Plant Process Researcher, Virginia Tech
Undergraduate Researcher
Lily Metrinko
Undergraduate Researcher, 2025–2026
B.S., Virginia Tech, 2022–2026
Next: Engineer, Corning Inc.
Stella Yoon
Undergraduate Researcher, 2024–2026
B.S., Virginia Tech, 2023–2026
Next: Graduate Student, The Ohio State University
Troy Walker
Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2022–2024
B.S., Virginia Tech, 2020–2024
Honor: Outstanding Senior, 2024
Next: Graduate School, Virginia Tech
Eva Arnade
Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2022–2023
Next: Food Technologist, Nestlé
Ronnie Difulvio
Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2022
Next: Associate Manager, The Clorox Company
Katy Lobeda
Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2019–2021
Next: Wine Technologist, E & J Gallo Winery
Patrick Reilly
Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S., Virginia Tech, 2021–2025
Sophie Pinton
Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2018–2019
Next: Graduate Research Assistant, UC Davis
Jack Jiang
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Summer 2018
Next: Software Engineer, Amazon Inc.
Jeff Wilder
Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2017–2018
Next: Formulation Chemist, AMCO Proteins
Jasim Khan
Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016–2017
Next: Graduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech
Advisee Recognitions & Awards
We are proud of the accomplishments of our students and researchers and their recognition at departmental, university, and professional-society levels.
- Journey Yang, USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship, 2026.
- Ruoshi Xiao, 1st place in Graduate Research Poster Presentation, Food Science Departmental Annual Research Symposium, Virginia Tech, 2026.
- Fujunzhu Zhao, Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher, Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, 2026.
- Fujunzhu Zhao, 2nd place in CALS Research Summit Poster Presentation, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, 2026.
- Dacia Ringo, 1st place, National MANRRS Business Pitch Competition, 2025.
- Dacia Ringo, 2nd place, National MANRRS Public Speaking Competition, 2025.
- Dacia Ringo, 3rd place, National MANRRS Oral Research Competition, 2025.
- Mico Li, 1st place in Graduate Research Oral Presentation, Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2025.
- Zane Xu, 3rd place in Graduate Research Poster Presentation, Food Science Departmental Annual Research Symposium, Virginia Tech, 2025.
- Shuo Jiang, 3rd place in student research presentation (1st year graduate student category), Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2025.
- Zane Xu, Graduate Student Travel Award, International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), 2025.
- Mico Li, Student Presentation Award, ASABE International Meeting, 2024.
- Mico Li, Outstanding Poster Presentation Award, ASABE International Meeting, 2024.
- Xueqian Su, Founders' Scholarship, Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society, 2023.
- Jordan Allen, Department of Food Science and Technology nominee for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Outstanding Graduate Student Award, 2023.
- Andrea Johnson, Finalist on student research poster competition, IFT International Meeting, 2022.
- Daisy Yu, 3rd place in student research presentation (graduate category), Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2022.
- Andrea Johnson, 2nd place in student research presentation (first year graduate category), Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2022.
- Daisy Yu, Extra Mile Award, Virginia Tech Department of Food Science and Technology, 2022.
- Qing Jin, Founder Scholarship, Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society, 2022.
- Daisy Yu, Gideon E. Livingston Scholarship, Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society, 2022.
- Katy Lobeda, 3rd place in student research presentation (undergraduate category), IFT International Meeting, 2021.
- Daisy Yu, Finalist on student research poster competition, IFT International Meeting, 2021.
- Ellen He, Finalist on student research poster competition, IFT International Meeting, 2021.
- Daisy Yu, 3rd place in student research presentation (graduate category), Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2021.
- Qing Jin, Outstanding Ph.D. student for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, 2021.
- Katy Lobeda, 1st place in student research presentation (undergraduate category), Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2021.
- Katy Lobeda, 2nd place in student research presentation (undergraduate category), Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2020.
- Qing Jin, 1st place in student research presentation (graduate category), Food Science Departmental Annual Research Competition, 2020.
- Ellen He, Graduate student proposal winner, Southern Region of Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, 2019.
- Ellen He, 1st place in student poster presentation, S1075 Multi-State Meeting, 2019.
- Daisy Yu, Best Student Oral Presentation, ASABE International Meeting, 2019.
- Sophie Pinton, 1st place in student poster presentation (undergraduate category), Food Science Departmental Annual Poster Competition, 2019.
- Qing Jin, 1st Place in Ph.D. Research Award, Virginia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi, 2019.
- Daisy Yu, Finalist on student research poster competition, IFT International Meeting, 2018.
- Nick Poe, Finalist on student research poster competition, IFT International Meeting, 2018.
- Qing Jin, 1st place in student poster presentation, Food Science Departmental Annual Poster Competition, 2018.
- Daisy Yu, 2nd place in student poster presentation, Food Science Departmental Annual Poster Competition, 2018.
- Nick Poe, Outstanding First Year Graduate Student Award, Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, 2018.