August 17, 2020 – Dr. Wonnop Visessaguan, BIOTEC Executive Director, has been named Outstanding Scientist in Food Science and Technology for the year 2020 by the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology under the Patronage of His Majesty the King. Held at the Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao, the award ceremony was presided over by H.E. Prof. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.
Dr. Visessanguan’s interests and expertise lie in food chemistry, especially in the areas of proteins and enzymes. The wealth of his in-depth knowledge and technology stems from both basic and applied research undertaken throughout the course of 20 years of his career as a researcher. His works create solutions to encounter the challenges that the food industry faces. Applications of microbial cells, enzymes and cell metabolites have successfully been demonstrated and elevates the quality of food products, increases process efficiency and raises the food safety standards, especially in traditional fermented food industry. Throughout the years of extensive research activities, the knowledge has been integrated and synthesized in other areas, serving as a basis for research on utilization of agricultural raw materials and food processing by-products, creating high-value functional food innovation for the country’s food industry.
He has published over 150 papers in international peer-reviewed journals with 7,963 citations and has the h-index of 51 (Ref.: ISI Web of Science from 2000 – 2020). He has filed over 32 patents, petty patents and trade secrets. 9 licensing activities are also added to his achievements which include accelerated fermentation process of fish sauce using enzyme, Lactic acid bacteria as starter culture for fermentation of sour mustard green, one-step process for making fruit vinegar and eLysozyme™ product with antimicrobial activity which is suitable to be used as food preservatives and feed supplement. Both of his previously-implemented and on-going research works have generated over 1,800 million THB in economic impact. Several of his works have turned to commercial success such as joint-investment between NSTDA and private sectors, investment of new infrastructure and new product development. From fundamental research in food chemistry to breakthrough innovations that expand new horizon of food and feed industries, Dr. Visessanguan’s works help the country to stay on the cutting-edge.
Along with Dr. Visessanguan, Prof. Dr. Sutthichai Assabumrungrat, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chulalongkorn University was also awarded the prestigious Outstanding Scientist Award for his work on “Multifunctional Reactor and Process Intensification”.
In conjunction with Outstanding Scientists, the Foundation also announced two Young Scientist Awards which went to Assoc.Prof. Dr. Taweetham Limpanuparb, Mahidol University International College, and Dr. Pichaya Pattanasattayavong, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology.
