PhD student wins Institute of Food Science and Technology award

Abdulmannan Fadel wins Young Food Scientist award

A PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University has come top spot in the Regional Young Food Scientist award.

Abdulmannan Fadel was handed the award from the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) for his research that looks to find an environmentally friendly approach to extract useful chemicals – bioactive compounds – that may have beneficial biological effects on the body, from cereal by-products.

The annual Young Scientist Competition offers undergraduate and postgraduate students, and recent graduates in the UK, the opportunity to present current or recently completed food-related projects in front of peers and to a panel of food professionals.

Opportunity

Tristan Dew, Senior Lecturer in Food Science and Manchester Metropolitan, organised the event.
 
He said: "Providing opportunities for students to hone their employability is key to graduate success. The IFST Young Food Scientist competition is a brilliant opportunity for students to interact with experienced members of the food industry and discuss the wider impact and commercial potential of their work. Our newly revitalised MSc programme in Food Science and Innovation provides a perfect basis for science and engineering graduates starting their career in the UKs largest manufacturing segment."
 

Judges

Abdulmannan presented his research to head judge Ivan Bartolo, from the Sea Fish Industry Authority, and Andy Kerridge, consultant at Wyvern Food Solutions, to win a £250 prize, plus one-year membership of IFST and SCI.

He was judged amongst four other finalists at the event hosted by the University on Tuesday, April 17. Two other Manchester Metropolitan students, Yu Lam Ng, a PhD student and Lorna Scott, MSc student, were also amongst the finalists.

Support

Abdulmannan said: “It gives me a great pleasure to win the Young Scientist of the Year award. I have always aspired to link food science, human nutrition and cell biology. When I pitched my research to enter for the award, I believed that it fit perfectly with what the judges were looking for due to its effect on health and the environment to reduce food waste.

“My research was a challenge but my supervisors at the University, Dr Andrew Plunkett and Dr Jason Ashworth, have always encouraged me to do the best I can and urged me to publish and present my work. I have also received constant support in my research from Professor Weili Li at the University of Chester. 

“I feel I was really blessed to be supervised by this incredible team. The support and guidance by my supervisors and the Head of Health Professions Department at Manchester Metropolitan, Dr Julie Wright, have given me the opportunity to publish more than eight papers within a short period of time.”

Abdulmannan is now developing his research further to focus on green extraction of a different type of chemicals from food waste and using these extracts to control human inflammatory responses.