VB

V.M. Balasubramaniam

Also known as: Bala

University of Georgia, The Ohio State University, Ohio State University, Asian Institute of Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

ORCID iD 0000-0002-1540-4273
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About

Dr. V.M. “Bala” Balasubramaniam is Koehler-Ayres Professor of Food Processing: Sustainable Food Manufacturing Systems, Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia. He specializes in research and outreach on advanced food processing and sanitation methods.

Before joining University of Georgia in 2025, he was a Professor of Food Engineering at The Ohio State University, Department of Food Science and Technology, and the Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering (2002-2025) and Associate Professor (Research) at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, an industry-FDA-University consortium at the Illinois Institute of Technology (1995-2002).

Dr. Bala’s research focuses on the development of innovative, sustainable advanced processing and sanitation technologies aimed at enhancing food safety, quality, and human health. His work contributes to the introduction of novel food processing techniques and sanitation methods for minimally processed foods, catering to modern consumer demands for products free from synthetic ingredients.

He has mentored 12 postdoctoral researchers, 18 visiting scholars, 11 doctoral students, 17 master’s students, and 9 undergraduate students. Currently, he advises 4 doctoral students, 1 master’s student, and 1 research associate. Many of his lab alumni are now employed in the food industry or have pursued academic careers.

Dr. Bala (ORCID 0000-0002-1540-4273) has authored 138 peer-reviewed publications, 30 book chapters, 24 bulletins and technical reports, 6 food processor fact sheets, 6 patents/invention disclosures, and 5 webinars. He has also co-edited 4 books on food processing. In addition, Dr. Bala has delivered approximately 270 presentations at meetings organized by professional societies, universities, trade associations, and the food industry. According to Thomson Reuters' Web of Science, Dr. Bala has an h-index of 41, with 5,762 citations (as of November 2024), and an h-index of 50 on Google Scholar. A recent survey by Stanford University recognized Dr. Bala as being among the world’s top 2% of scientists.

Dr. Bala has supported his research and industrial outreach through over $10.6 million in funding ($3.27 million between 2020-2024) from various federal and industrial competitive grant programs.

Dr. Bala's industrial outreach and extension efforts focus on disseminating research findings to food processors, equipment providers, and regulatory authorities through publications, demonstrations, webinars, presentations, and short courses. He has contributed to numerous advanced food processing workshops and short courses hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the European Federation of Food Science and Technology (EFoST).
Dr. Bala's contributions to food engineering have been recognized by his peers. He received the 2021 IFT Research and Development Award and is a Fellow of IFT, IUFoST, and ISAE.

Employment

  • University of Georgia Koehler-Ayres Professor of Food Processing: Sustainable Food Manufacturing Systems
    2025 - Present
  • The Ohio State University Professor
    2002 - 2025
  • Illinois Institute of Technology Associate Professor
    1995 - 2002

Education

  • Ohio State University PhD
    1990 - 1993
  • Asian Institute of Technology MS
    1988 - 1989
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University B.E.
    1983 - 1987

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (214)