Scientific Interests

My scientific goals are motivated by the idea of designing disperse liquid and powdered products, mainly for applications in the life sciences and food area. They drive fundamental research on the influence of local process conditions on micro- and nanostructuresin disperse systems and the influence of the latter on product functionality and performance. Derived from this are design criteria for production processes and innovations of process units. They aim at adjusting desired product functionalities by adapted processes and by operating the required processes more sustainably. Current research work concentrates on dispersion and emulsification technologies (especially high-pressure homogenization), and on the design of emulsion-based liquid and solid formulations. For the latter, the focus is currently on food extrusion and spray drying processes, also with regard to the encapsulation of bioactive substances. The development of new microstructured process units is based on experimental results, numerical and innovative analytical methods in close cooperation with national and international colleagues from the required disciplines. Research results are implemented in cooperation with industrial partners, especially in the fields of food and chemistry, as well as plant construction.

Previous work areas:

Processes of food processing (food process engineering):

• Preservation of foodstuffs: Cooling, deep-freezing, freezing, drying (incl. microwave drying), inactivation of enzymes and microorganisms
• Functionalisation of foodstuffs (adjustment of desired quality properties): crushing of gaseous, liquid or solid particles and agglomerates (foaming, emulsifying, wet crushing, dispersing), agglomeration, spray and freeze drying, mixing, extrusion

Quality assurance:

• Physical analytics: Microstructure analysis (particle size and shape, image analysis methods); interfacial analysis (surface charge, static and dynamic interfacial tension); rheometry, glass transitions; water distribution and binding (sorption properties, spectroscopic, dielectric methods), bioavailability
• Chemical analysis (ingredients, HPLC)
• In-, On-. and Offline Process Measurement Technology

Products:

•  Emulsions: Milk, delicatessen and dessert products, lotions creams, waxes, ....
•  Grain-based products: Breakfast cereals, children's cereals, functional cereal products
•  Instant beverage powders
•  Fruit and vegetables, potatoes
•  Food additives: vitamins, secondary plant constituents
•  Pharmaceutical products: tablets
•  Chemical intermediates and end products: Paints and varnishes, polymers

Practical experience:

•  University, ressort and industrial research, R&D
•  Application technology and industrialisation in the above-mentioned fields of activity
•  Consumer-oriented product development

Memberships

• HAdW (Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften)
• ACATECH (National Academy of Science and Engineering)
• VDI/GVC (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, Fachgesellschaft Verfahrenstechnik und Chemieingenieurwesen)
• Dechema (Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.)
• FEI (Research Association of German Food Industry e.V.)
• DHV (Deutscher Hochschulverband)
• KIT-Fördergesellschaft e.V.
• IFT (Institute of Food Technologists)

Activities

• ProcessNet (German platform for chemical engineering, a joint initiative of DECHEMA and VDI-GVC):
  • Head of ProcessNet Subject Division “Food Process Engineering”
  • Scientific Advisor in ProcessNet Subject Division “Interfacially Dominated Systems and Processes”
• FEI (Research Association of German Food Industry e.V.):
  • Scientific advisor in the board of directors
  • Member of the Scientific Committee
• MIV (Association of the Germa Dairy Industry):
  • Member of the Scientifiv Committee
• Scientific Committee of diverse national and international symposia & congresses
• Reviewer for
  • Scientific Journals, e.g. Journal of Food Science, Langmuir, Europ Food Res & Technol, Food Hydrocolloids, Particle Systems Characterization, Powder Technology, Innovative Food Sci & Emerging Tech, J Food Eng, Hydrocolloids
  • AIF (the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations)
  • DFG (the German Research Foundation)

Scientific and other papers and patents are found on the orcid webpage or as pdf: Veröffentlichungsliste als PDF

Prizes and Awards - Preise und Auszeichnungen

CV - Lebenslauf