ISHWARYA MM

● Developed X+ customized microbiological media and reagents with an average throughput of 2000 plates (45-50L of media) every day tailored to specific requirements for industry, academia and government projects.

● Worked on 25 projects and handled multiple orders a day with a quick turnaround and 100% meeting deadlines.

• IFSH – US Department of Agriculture NIFA Center for Low Moisture Food Safety

● Actively worked on a critical project focused on the inactivation of Salmonella and Enterococcus faecium in apple cubes during drying under various conditions.

● Assisted with sample preparation, water activity measurement, and data recording and adapted the drying variables to optimize the process while simultaneously troubleshooting issues in pilot-scale drying operations.

● Prepared a variety of egg-based deli salads (tuna, chicken, potato) for a 30-day long project trial to study the survival of Listeria monocytogenes (pathogen) in Refrigerated hard-boiled Egg-based Deli Salads and comparing the effectiveness of citric acid and other ingredients against the control.

● Led the sampling, analytical testing, and reported the data on Listeria, Escherchia Coli, mold and fungi growth.

• Contributed to the development of new curriculum materials, enhancing the quality of instruction within the department.
• Supervised and assisted 50 graduate students with laboratory experiments, emphasizing proper handling of lab equipment and food analysis. Managed biohazardous waste disposal in compliance with safety regulations.
• Experiments included utilizing High Pressure Processing, sensory analysis, and teaching about 20+ pathogenic microorganisms creatively by inoculating food samples and investigating the mystery organism.

• Reviewed technical documents for accuracy, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Provided timely feedback to production teams regarding potential risks or areas of concern within the manufacturing process.
• Conducted environmental monitoring, water analysis, air quality assessment, microbiological tests on raw materials and data collection on Streptokinase Injection.

• Exceeded performance goals through diligent task completion, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through on assignments.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks effectively and adjusting workload as necessary to meet deadlines.
• Independently conceptualized and developed an innovative functional food product, a healthy foxtail millet snack and highlighted its efficacy on diabetes.
• Collaborated effectively to formulate a ‘Ready to serve’ nutritious beverage based on Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry) and developed a business model, packaging design and nutritional facts panel, and highlighted the nutritional benefits of the product, particularly its anticancer properties in contrast to commercial alternatives.