Latha Murugesan, Ph.D. candidate in Food Science, is the 2015 recipient of the Food Industry Group Graduate Student Leadership Award. The award was presented October 3, 2015 at the Food Industry Group Fall Membership & Board Meeting during the Annual Food Science Tailgate.

Latha Murugesan

Latha Murugesan

Latha has been actively involved in leadership activities while completing her graduate degree at Penn State. Latha served as the team captain of the Penn State Food Science College Bowl Team that captured first place in the Institute of Food Technologist Student Association (IFTSA) College Bowl Competition in 2014. She served as a team member on the Product Development Team that was one of six finalists in the Dairy Research Institute 2015 New Product Development Competition. Latha's leadership skills extend beyond Penn State. While completing her Masters degree at Chapman University she served as captain of the Chapman University College Bowl Team which placed second in the IFTSA College Bowl Championship in 2011 and Mountain-West Regional Titles in 2010 and 2011. Latha's work experience includes time as a microbiologist for Haliburtain International Foods in Ontario, Canada, and Food Microbiological Laboratories Inc. in Cypress, CA.

Latha has published in several peer-reviewed publications and presented her research at numerous scientific meetings, including the American Society for Microbiology and the Institute of Food Technologists. Latha was awarded the Janet G. and Frank J. Dudek Graduate Scholarship in Food Science during 2013 and 2014.

Latha is a talented student leader with a great future in food science. Latha expects to graduate in May 2016.

Department of Food Science

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