Meet our Team

As the leader of the Dairy NutriSol’s consortium, Owen McDougal is passionate about connecting research with practical application to improve industries and society. McDougal is the current director of the Food and Dairy Innovation Center at Boise State University, former chair of the Chemistry Department at Boise State, and current board member of the Western Dairy Center. He thrives in the space of public-private partnerships and has served as a mentor for over 100 students in his tenure as a professor.

Boise State Department of Chemistry 

Boise State Food and Dairy Innovation Center 

With over 20 years of experience in the field, Tim brings cutting-edge thinking around artificial intelligence and machine learning to the challenges of the dairy industry. Andersen has worked on numerous grant projects developing software solutions for industry challenges. His role on this team centers around the development of in-line software sensing solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of real-time monitoring at the dairy processing plant. Tim is a graduate of Brigham Young University and currently a professor at Boise State University.

Tim Anderson’s Boise State University Faculty Profile

Unlu is a food scientist who specializes in food microbiology. She is also an avid educator and passionate about introducing youth to the value of a career in the food industry. As part of the NutriSols consortium, Unlu is focused on the team’s workforce development objective, aiming to expose students to opportunities in the dairy sector. She is an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists and contributing editor to their magazine

Gulhan Unlu’s University of Idaho Faculty Profile 

Prateek is a Dairy Foods Scientist with a global footprint. He specializes in projects related to dairy processing technology with specific interests in how the unique structure of dairy foods impacts its functionality as an ingredient. Sharma has worked with some of the world’s largest dairy producing countries including Ireland, New Zealand, and India. He has received numerous awards and published more than 30 articles and book chapters.

Prateek Sharma’s Utah State University Faculty Profile

Specializing in food process engineering, Kumar thrives in applying new technologies to food processing to inspire new products and innovative solutions. As part of the Dairy NutriSols team, Kumar’s focus is on the application of Pulse Electric Field (PEF) and Extrusion technologies. Both offer innovative techniques for boosting quality and driving innovative new protein-rich ingredients for the food industry. In addition to his role as a full-time professor, Kumar serves as the associate director for the Midwest Dairy Food Research Center and the director of graduate studies at the University of Minnesota.

Kumar Malilkarjunan’s University of Minnesota Faculty Profile

Jenny Weaver is the heartbeat of the Dairy NutriSols. As the consortium’s program manager, she keeps the team on track managing the budget, reporting, meetings, and milestone progress. She has extensive administrative leadership experience in the worlds of nonprofits, higher education, and consulting.

Kristi Spence is a communications professional who loves helping scientists tell their stories. Translating research into meaningful impact means that scientists can grow partnerships, generate enthusiasm for their work, and convey meaningful societal impact. Spence is a registered dietitian, former dairy executive, writer, and speaker.

As a seasoned dairy economist, Sara Dorland specializes in providing risk management and financial consulting services to agriculture and food-based businesses. She has extensive experience in the dairy sector and counsels the Dairy NutriSols consortium on issues related to go-to-market strategies and solution feasibility. Her grasp of the local dairy industry as well as the global landscape positions allows her to counsel the team on true social impact through developing meaningful B to B relationships. 

Ceres Dairy Risk Management 

Cantley brings extensive experience in food processing and consumer product development to the Dairy NutriSol’s team. Currently the center director for Studio\blu, an organization that partners with Idaho manufacturers to mentor Boise State students to move real-world projects from concept to market. She has a keen mind for business and product development and counsels the team on process integration and go-to-market solutions.

Studio\blu

As a food processing specialist, Janna’s expertise is in food manufacturing. Through her current role, she assists the local food processing industry through TechHelp, University of Idaho Extension and the University of Idaho’s Veterinary and Food Sciences Department. She understands the needs, demands, and training required for today’s workforce and serves as Dairy NutriSol’s resident expert on labor challenges in the food manufacturing sector. Janna has extensive experience both in the education and dairy processing fields and counsels the team on objectives related to workforce development.

TechHelp Idaho

Janna Hamlett’s University of Idaho Faculty Profile

With expertise in food science application, Sonia brings a passion for the work and practical know-how to the Dairy NutriSol’s team. Her technical leadership skills coupled with expertise in understanding dairy ingredient functionality allow her to develop functional and innovative new products. Sonia currently leads the Dairy Food Innovation & Application Lab for the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center and works closely with companies to offer subject matter expertise, ensuring the seamless implementation of dairy ingredients and facilitating successful product launches from concept to commercialization, to achieve outcomes that align with consumer needs and market trends. Sonia brings experience and skill to the Dairy NutriSols team, especially around the team’s pulse-electric field and extrusion objectives.

Sonia Patel’s University of Minnesota Faculty Profile 

Rose Saxton joins the Dairy NutriSol’s team with strong research and lab experience in fields directly related to the team’s five core objectives. She graduated from Boise State University with a transdisciplinary degree combining chemistry, biology and physics, and then joined the University as a research assistant in 2021. Having been a BUILD Dairy program research student, Rose is well-connected to the dairy industry and the team’s research projects. Rose is a seasoned lab technician having worked in both University and industry settings and serves as a valuable resource to the team as she works to understand how Dairy NutriSol’s research can be applied to and adopted by the industry.

Rose Saxton’s Boise State University Profile