Meet doctoral researchers at Brunel University
Chloe Mayo
2022-26 cohort
Project title: Designer plant burgers – use of targeted biochemistry and chemistry to generate flavour (taste and aroma) during extrusion of plant protein
Academic partner: University of Reading
Why is your project important to or how is it relevant to the UK food system?
Currently many plant-based meats are not up to meat-eating consumer standards, which means many do not want to purchase these products over traditional animal meat. By improving the taste during the processing method, it is possible to improve these products, hence, encouraging consumers to decrease their meat consumption, which in turn means less demand for meat.
What have you enjoyed most about DTP training so far?
I’ve enjoyed the large range of training we have been offered, especially the data training. I have found this incredibly useful for both my project and in learning other coding languages for outside projects.
Alex Moores
2021-25 cohort
Project title: Society’s sustainable sandwich – increasing circularity and sustainability with robust metrics
Academic partner: University of Reading
My project is a CASE studentship and is supported by a food company.
What is your project about?
My project aims to explore how we can guide progress towards a circular economy for food. A circular economy reduces resource use and environmental impacts, and promotes social well-being. My research will help to put life-cycle thinking into practice and move towards a just and sustainable food system.
Why attracted you to doing a PhD with the FoodBioSystems DTP?
What drew me most to my PhD project was the opportunity to work on one of the world’s most important challenges. Alongside, I get to build my research skills, develop expertise in my field, and learn lots along the way.
Being part of a cohort of DTP students is a fantastic opportunity to network, share ideas, and learn from each other. Plus, working with an industrial partner allows me to test my research in a commercial setting – a great way to gain experience and increase impact.
Leyli Vahid Dastjerdi
2021-25 cohort
Project title: Low-carbon Food Processing with Solid State Microwave Technologies
Academic partner: University of Reading
What is your project about?
My project looks at assessment of energy consumption and efficiency, GHG emission and physicochemical properties of bread (texture, crust formation, toasty aroma ) and some vegetable snacks made by different microwave generators: Solid-state oven and conventional magnetron technology.
Why attracted you to doing a PhD with the FoodBioSystems DTP?
I believe that the knowledge I have gained is little and there is much more to learn and relearn. I am sure that PhD in food science will widen the horizons of my knowledge and help me attain a milestone toward food technology.
FoodBioSytems offers the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art laboratories and receive world-leading training through integrated research across food production as well as build connections with other students with different backgrounds.