Audrey L. Girard, Ph.D. | Principal Investigator
Audrey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science. She obtained her B.S. in Bakery Science & Management from Kansas State University and her Ph.D. in Food Science & Technology from Texas A&M University. She is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the Cereals and Grains Association (formerly AACCI), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS), Phi Tau Sigma honor society, and the Pulse Protein Innovation Center research cohort. When not working, Audrey enjoys running, reading, and any activity that gets her into the great outdoors.
(608) 890-4877 | algirard@wisc.edu | LinkedIn
Ting Mao, Ph.D. | Postdoctoral Research Associate
Ting earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from South Dakota State University in 2026. Her research primarily focused on investigating the delivery properties of milk proteins (whey proteins and caseins) for transporting berry-derived polyphenols. She joined our team as a postdoctoral researcher in February 2026. In her free time, Ting enjoys reading books and watching cartoons with her kids.
Andrew Ndubuisi Akanno, Ph.D. | Postdoctoral Research Associate
Andrew has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. In the course of his research career, his interest mainly focused on understanding the bulk and interfacial properties of colloids and emulsions. Andrew enjoys playing soccer and running cross-country races.
(608) 239-7283 | akanno@wisc.edu | LinkedIn
Lily Lincoln | Doctoral Student
Lily received her B.S. in Food Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Previously, she has had summer internships with Cargill & J.M. Smucker. She is now pursuing a PhD and joined the lab in September 2022. In her free time she enjoys hiking, running, & reading.
Sanjana Sawant | Doctoral Student
Sanjana received her M.S. in Food Science and Technology from The Ohio State University. She joined the lab as a PhD student in Fall 2023. In her free time Sanjana enjoys watching movies, playing badminton, and reading.
Tina Miao | Doctoral Student
Tina received her B.S. in Food Science with a minor in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She joined the lab as a PhD student in Fall 2025. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, playing tennis, and watching movies with friends.
Sophia Delgado | Undergraduate Lab Assistant | Started Spring 2023
Annabelle Cunningham | Undergraduate Lab Assistant | Summer 2026
Sally Shin | Undergraduate Lab Assistant | Summer 2026
Previous Lab Members
Postdoctoral Research Associates
- Shima Momen, Ph.D. | Fall 2023 – Summer 2025 | Next step: Food Scientist at Perdue Farms | LinkedIn
- Rachel Hutchinson Dietrich, Ph.D. | Spring 2023 – Summer 2024 | Next step: Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Roberts Wesleyan University | LinkedIn
- Nan Li, Ph.D. | Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 | Next step: Research Scientist @ Colgate-Palmolive | LinkedIn
Graduate Students
- Tayana Roark, MS | Graduated August 2025 | Next step: Jr. Process Technologist/Engineer at Ferrero | LinkedIn
- Tori Budin, MS | Graduated August 2024 | Next step: Research and Development Technologist @ JM Smucker Co | LinkedIn
- Vanessa Soendjaja, MS | Graduated May 2023 | Next step: Associate Scientist II @ Mondelez | LinkedIn
Undergraduate Lab Assistants
- Wendy Lu | Spring 2024-Spring 2026 | Next step: R&D Chef at Tovala
- Whitney Brown | Fall 2024-Spring 2026 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Food Science
- Aaliya Dunn | Summer 2025 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Food Science
- Annabelle Cunningham | Summer 2025 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Food Science @ Michigan State
- Preston Smith | Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Food Science
- Hailey Tang | Spring 2023 – Spring 2024 | Next step: Associate Bakery Scientist @ Pure’s Food Specialties
- Caden Bramstedt | Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 | Next step: Research, Development, and Applications graduate on the snacks and seasonings team @ Kerry
- Andrew Zierath | Summer 2023 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Food Science
- Macy Vander Pas | Summer 2022 – Fall 2022 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Chemistry, and then onto industry position (assistant scientist at IFF)
- Steph Kishter | Summer 2022 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Food Science
- Joe French | Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 | Next step: Summer intern at TreeHouse Foods
- Tori Budin | Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 | Next step: Summer intern at Kerry, and then joining our lab as an MS student!
- Chloe Keaty | Summer 2021 | Next step: Continuing student majoring in Neurobiology
High School Lab Assistants
- Nathan Hammen | Spring-Summer 2024
- Annabelle Cunningham | Summer 2023
Interested in joining the lab?
Please send an introductory email to algirard@wisc.edu and include a current CV/resume. Some general info:
- Undergraduate researcher positions are available throughout the school year and during the summer. These positions are paid, and generally filled by Food Science students, though students with strong Food Sci. interest are also invited to apply. There is no open call; this is subject to resource availability.
- Graduate student positions typically begin in the fall semesters, though sometimes opportunities exist for spring or summer start dates. These opportunities are based on resource (read: grant) availability. Calls are not generally posted for these positions either.
- Postdoc positions can begin at any time. Like all other positions, these are dependent upon resource availability.