Our People

The Medway Food Innovation staff combine diverse technical backgrounds. With leading expertise in food processing, plant-based food, algae biotechnology, food engineering, food microstructure, food safety, nutrition science, packaging and fresh produce storage, MFIC will provide highly skilled technical support and future-fit R&D capabilities.

Whether your business is a new start-up or an established business, the Centre is here to work closely with you to support your technical and business ideas.

To discuss how the Medway Food Innovation Centre (MFIC) can support you, please get in touch with one of the team:

Professor Nazanin Zand

Professor Nazanin Zand
BSc, MSc, PhD, FIFST, FHEA, Inst.ML

Head of Department – Food & Markets

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Dr Parag Acharya

Dr Parag Acharya
PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons.), MRSC

Innovation Growth Manager

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Professor Debbie Rees

Professor Debbie Rees
BSc, PhD

Researcher on handling Perishable Food

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Dr Vahid Baeghbali

Dr Vahid Baeghbali
BSc, MSc, PhD

Food Processing Technology Research

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Valerie Pondaven

Valerie Pondaven

Food Accelerator Manager

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Dr Xi He

Dr Xi He
MSc, PhD

Flavour Technologist

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Dr Yixing Sui

Dr Yixing Sui
BEng, MSc, PhD

Researcher on Algal Biotechnology

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Dr Rania Harastani

Dr Rania Harastani
BEng, MSc, PhD

Lecturer in Food Safety/Food Innovation

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Dr Tonna Anaysi

Dr Tonna Anaysi
BSc, MSc, PhD

Senior Lecturer in Food Innovation

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Dr Micael de Andrade Lima

Dr Micael de Andrade Lima
PhD, FHEA

Lecturer in Food Innovation

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Mihiri Vanniarachchy

Mihiri Vanniarachchy

Research Fellow in Flavour Technology

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Mary Nkongho Tanyitiku

Mary Nkongho Tanyitiku

Research Fellow

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