Two graduate students in West Virginia Universitys Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences made strong showings in research competition at the annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists held recently in Chicago.

Joey Gigliotti earned 2nd place in the Nutrition Division with his paper titled”Isolation and nutritional analysis of krill protein concentrate.”Gigliotti, of Berkeley Springs, is pursuing a masters degree in human nutrition and foods. His major advisor is Dr. Janet Tou, assistant professor of human nutrition and foods, and his co-advisor is Dr. Jacek Jaczynski, assistant professor of food science and technology.

Leah Levanduski earned 4th place in the Nonthermal Processing Division for his paper titledIncreased resistance of Escherichia coli O157 :H7 to electron beam following repetitive irradiation at sub-lethal doses.Levandusky, of Acme, Pa., earned her masters degree in animal and nutritional sciences over the summer and will begin veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia this fall. Her major advisor was Dr. Jaczynski.

This is a great recognition for our students and research programs at WVU ,Tou said.The IFT Annual Meeting is the largest professional meeting in the field.

Almost 24,000 attendees from more than 75 countries from around the world convened at this years IFT meeting in Chicago. Founded in 1939, the Institute of Food Technologists is a nonprofit scientific society with 22,000 members working in food science, food technology, and related professions in industry, academia and government.