Current Researchers and Staff
Faculty

Dr. Wan-Yuan Kuo, Director
Contact: (406) 994-3259 | [email protected] | Reid Hall 347, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717
Graduate Researchers
Edwin Allan
Contact: [email protected]
Résumé (PDF)
Background: Edwin developed his passion for improving value-added agriculture as a youth in his hometown of Damolgu, Ghana, where crop farming is the main occupation.
Education: Edwin received his M.S. in Sustainable Food Systems and is currently a doctoral student at MSU. He received his B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Ghana.
FPDL Involvement: PhD work: Researching the culinary and nutritional quality of Montanan vs. Washington lentils and chickpeas and experimenting with extrusion processing of Montana lentils and chickpeas. Master's work: Edwin led the development of a culturally-sensitive peanut product for smallholder farmers in Kaffrine, Senegal.
Awards:
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Sustainable Food Systems, Montana State University - 2020 spring semester
- Montana State University’s graduate award in Scholarship Excellence – 2020 spring semester
- Judges’ Choice Award in Montana State University $50K venture competition
- First Place in the Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Competition (DSDC), Institute of Food Technologists 2020 conference
Other Interests: Playing basketball, reading novels, and playing word games.
Chidimma Ifeh
Contact: [email protected], LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/chidimma-ifeh
Hometown: Anambra, Nigeria
Education: Chidimma is currently enrolled in MSU's Sustainable Food Systems master's program. She earned a B.S. in Food Science and Technology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
FPDL Involvement: Machine learning; PATH program fermentation research; and supporting the Lab's service and outreach projects.
Awards:
2023
- MSU 3-Minute Thesis, 1st place
- MSU College of EHHD Student Conference Travel Grant
- MSU College of EHHD 3-Minute Thesis, 1st Place
- MSU Graduate School Graduate Professional Advancement Grant
- MSU 75K Venture, semi-finalist
- Mars Wrigley - Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant
- MSU College of EHHD Travel Grant
2022
- 2022 MSU College of EHHD Travel Grant
Other interests: Watching sport games, exercising, reading, playing music, and volunteering.
Ravi Kumar Pirati
Contact: [email protected]
Hometown: Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Education: Pursuing a master's in Chemical Engineering
FPDL Involvement: Developing recipes for extruded lentil texturized vegetable protein, extruded lentil snack puffs, and extruded lentil pasta from lentil starch and protein concentrate using a twin screw pilot scale extruder.
Other Interests: Hiking, playing Badminton and cricket, watching movies and listening to music.
Undergraduate Researchers
Lynn Weeks
Education: Pursuing a B.S. in Food and Nutrition, Dietetics option
FPDL involvement: Assisting the PATH project with development of a fermented beverage
Staff

Rebecca Richter, Media Manager & Program Coordinator
Contact: [email protected]
A former resident of Montana for 20 years, Rebecca is now a digital nomad seeking warm weather and beautiful hiking spots with her 1992 Toyota motorhome. Rebecca has a B.S. in Archaeology from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and an M.S. in Plant Biology from Arizona State University. She served in the U.S. Peace Corps in West Africa, managed a non-profit organization in Missoula, Montana, and worked for the National Audubon Society for many years. Rebecca is passionate about living and teaching about the whole food plant based lifestyle for health and sustainability.

Sophia Seffrood, Extrusion Program Manager
Contact: [email protected]
Sophia is a 2022 graduate of Montana State University with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a cum laude Honors Baccalaureate. She grew up on a dairy farm in Summit, South Dakota and interned two summers at Valley Queen Cheese Factory. A goal for her career is to work cooperatively with food processors to decrease energy, labor, and food waste. She enjoys the Bozeman outdoors, traveling, and dreams of having a big garage to work on personal projects.
Certifications: FSPCA Preventative Controls Qualified Individual
Learn more about our Food Extrusion Unit

Rebecca Soulé, Culinary Manager and R&D Chef
Contact: [email protected]