VM Balasubramaniam

Dr. V. M. Balasubramaniam is the Koehler–Ayres Professor of Food Processing and Sustainable Food Manufacturing Systems in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia. Prior to joining the University of Georgia, he served as Professor of Food Engineering at The Ohio State University (2002–2025) and as a faculty member at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology (1995–2002).

Dr. Bala’s food engineering research focuses on advancing engineering-based, multidisciplinary approaches for the development of next-generation sustainable food manufacturing and sanitation technologies aimed at pathogen reduction and preservation of nutritional quality. His current research includes microbial safety of high-pressure pasteurization and pressure-assisted thermal sterilization, novel applications of nonthermal technologies for protein and lipid extraction and contribute to the development of novel sanitation technologies. He also contributes to strategies for reducing food waste through valorization using innovative nonthermal processing approaches.

Dr. Balasubramaniam is a founding member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Nonthermal Processing Division and has provided extensive leadership and service, including roles as Chair (2010–2011), Past Chair, and Secretary. He has also served on several IFT committees, including the Publications Committee and past-chair council. Since 2000, he has been an active member of the IFT–EFoST International Nonthermal Processing Workshop Committee and has participated in short courses and workshops worldwide.

Dr. Bala’s laboratory has mentored more than 30 graduate students and 20 visiting scholars. He has disseminated his research through over 180 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, four books, and more than 270 professional presentations. Most recently, he and his colleagues published the second edition of Nonthermal Processing Technologies for Food, featuring contributions from leading experts in the field. His research and scholarly contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2021 IFT Research and Development Award. He is elected Fellow of IFT, IUFoST and ISAE.