Jingjing Tao | Food | Best Researcher Award

Ms Jingjing Tao | Food |  Best Researcher Award

PhD student at  University of Washington, United States

Jingjing (Tina) Tao is a dedicated researcher in the fields of environmental and agricultural economics. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Washington, she previously earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, achieving high academic honors. With a strong foundation in agricultural economics and environmental sciences, Jingjing actively engages in research addressing contemporary challenges in these domains.

Publication profile:

Education:

Jingjing is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington (2024 – 2029). She earned her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, where she graduated with a GPA of 3.98 (2022 – 2024), and previously obtained her Bachelor of Science (with highest distinction) in Agricultural Economics from the same institution, achieving a GPA of 3.99 (2020 – 2022). She also studied Agricultural Economics at China Agricultural University (2018 – 2020).

Research and Publications:

Jingjing’s research focuses on topics such as climate change impacts on fisheries, online media sentiment analysis in aquaculture, and local food systems. She has published multiple papers in reputable journals, including Aquaculture and Natural Resource Modeling. Her work on the online media sentiment analysis of shrimp and salmon has received significant attention, and she has several publications currently under review.

Professional Experience

Jingjing has gained valuable industry experience through internships, including a Data Scientist Intern position at Happy the Movement and a Recruitment and Operation Intern at Baidu, Inc. She also has teaching experience as a teaching assistant at both the University of Washington and Purdue University.

Awards and Grants:

Throughout her academic career, Jingjing has received numerous awards and fellowships, including the 2024 SEFS Recruitment Fellowship and the 2023 Department Travel Grant.

Professional Affiliations:

She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA).

 

Publication Top Notes:

  • Quantifying “Local Food” Online and Social Media in the United States for 2018–2021
    J Jung, J Tao, NO Widmar
    Agriculture & Food Security, 11(1), 59 (2022)
  • Online Grocery Shopping Practices and Intentions Shaped by Pandemic-era Experiences
    C Bir, J Jung, J Tao, NO Widmar
    Journal of Food Distribution Research, 54(3), 1-29 (2023)
  • Exploring the Blue Economy Nexus: Government, Industry, and Market’s Perspectives on Seafood
    J Tao
    Purdue University Graduate School (2024)
  • A Regional Analysis of Climate Change Effects on Global Snow Crab Fishery
    J Tao, KK Quagrainie, KA Foster, NO Widmar
    Natural Resource Modeling, e12406 (2024)
  • Alert: Ultra-processed Food Is Overwhelming Americans’ Diet
    J Tao
    Journal of Agricultural Science, 14(4) (2022)
  • Environmental Problem Analysis and Policy Recommendations on Pacific Northwest Salmon
    J Tao
    Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 3(2), 1-6 (2021)
  • From Novelty to Normalcy: Making Entomophagy a Common Diet
    J Tao
    NASS Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3(2), 23-27 (2021)
  • Online Media Sentiment Analysis of Shrimp and Salmon in the United States
    J Tao, K Quagrainie
    Available at SSRN 4754216
  • Climate Change and Snow Crab Harvest: Applying Random Effects Estimators with Instrumental Variable
    J Tao, K Quagrainie
    Available at SSRN 4684246

 

Li Zheng | Plant Food Components | Best Researcher Award

Dr Li Zheng | Plant Food Components | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer at Northeast Agricultural University, China

Dr. Li Zheng is a distinguished lecturer at the College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, specializing in Food Science and Engineering with a focus on the processing and storage of agricultural products. Born on May 4, 1990, she completed her joint doctoral studies at Cornell University, USA, a prestigious Ivy League institution, before joining Northeast Agricultural University in July 2021 under the fifth-level B talent introduction program.

Profile:

🎓 Educational and Professional Journey:

Dr. Zheng’s academic journey is highlighted by her joint Ph.D. training at Cornell University, an Ivy League institution in the United States. Her research primarily focuses on the interactions of plant food components and the formation of colloidal structures, gels, and proteins.

📜 Academic Achievements:

Dr. Zheng has authored 20 scientific papers in renowned international journals, with 13 as the first or corresponding author, including publications in JCR-Q1 journals. Her work includes two highly cited papers and one hot paper, boasting a cumulative impact factor of 138.1. She has also published an article in a prestigious Science journal. Her innovative contributions are marked by four pending invention patents.

🏅 Honors and Recognition:

She has been honored as an “Academic Backbone” of Northeast Agricultural University, “Sanjiang Talents” of Jiamusi City, and “Science and Technology Special Correspondent” of Guangdong Province.

🔬 Research and Development:

Dr. Zheng has actively participated in numerous research projects, with a notable grant portfolio totaling $220,000. Her efforts have advanced scientific knowledge, improved industry practices, and facilitated cost-effective innovations. She has also been instrumental in extension activities, bridging the gap between research and practical applications through workshops and training programs.

Research Focus: Plant Food Components

Dr. Li Zheng’s research in plant food components primarily revolves around understanding and leveraging the intricate interactions within plant-based foods. Her work aims to enhance the quality, functionality, and storage of agricultural products. Key areas of her research include:

  1. Interaction of Plant Food Components:
    • Colloidal Structure Formation: Investigating how plant food components such as proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids interact to form stable colloidal systems.
    • Gel Formation: Exploring the mechanisms behind gelation in plant-based foods to develop improved textural properties in food products.
    • Protein Functionality: Studying the functional properties of plant proteins, including their solubility, emulsification, and foaming abilities, to enhance their use in various food applications.
  2. Innovation and Application:
    • Developing novel plant-based food products with improved nutritional and sensory properties.
    • Enhancing the shelf-life and stability of food products through advanced processing and storage techniques.
  3. Publications and Patents:
    • Authored 20 scientific papers in internationally recognized journals, including 9 in JCR-Q1 journals.
    • Holds 4 pending invention patents related to her research in plant food components.
  4. Project Involvement:
    • Principal investigator or participant in national and provincial research projects, focusing on high-impact studies in food science.
  5. Industry Collaboration:
    • Collaborating with industry partners to implement research findings into practical applications, improving food quality and sustainability.

Dr. Li Zheng’s dedication to plant food components research has significantly advanced the understanding of food science, driving innovation and enhancing the quality and efficiency of agricultural product processing and storage.

Publication Top Notes:

  • 3D Printing of Smart Labels with Curcumin-loaded Soy Protein Isolate
    • Authors: Li, H., Liu, M., Li, J., Wei, A., Hua, S.
    • Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
    • Citations: 5
  • Understanding the Structure, Interfacial Properties, and Digestion Fate of High Internal Phase Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Food-Grade Coacervates
    • Authors: Wang, L., Liu, M., Guo, P., Cui, Q., Hua, S.
    • Journal: Food Chemistry, 2023
    • Citations: 15
  • Gel Properties and Structural Characteristics of Composite Gels of Soy Protein Isolate and Silver Carp Protein
    • Authors: Zheng, L., Regenstein, J.M., Zhou, L., Mokhtar, S.M., Wang, Z.
    • Journal: Gels, 2023
    • Citations: 3
  • Reconstituted Rice Protein: The Raw Materials, Techniques, and Challenges
    • Authors: Zheng, L., Regenstein, J.M., Wang, Z., Zhang, H., Zhou, L.
    • Journal: Trends in Food Science and Technology, 2023
    • Citations: 6
  • The Amur Tiger Needs Transborder Protection
    • Authors: Zheng, L., Regenstein, J.M., Jiang, L., Wang, Z.
    • Journal: Science, 2022