Annegret Jannasch, a U of A Ph.D. student in food science, won a best student research presentation award at the 2023 Cereals & Grains Association annual meeting in Chicago.

Jannasch won the Carbohydrate Division Best Student Paper Award sponsored by the Corn Refiners Association. The competition included both a poster and oral presentation, and her award includes a $750 prize.

Jannasch's presentation was "Parboiling of Pigmented Waxy Cereals to Enhance Viscosity Development in a Simulated Gastric Environment." The research presented a novel approach to develop clean-label food ingredients from pigmented cereals that could improve food texture, satiety and nutritional value.

Jannasch, a student in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, works under the guidance of Ya-Jane Wang, professor of carbohydrate chemistry in the Department of Food Science. Wang is a member of the faculty, as well as a researcher and scientist with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

Wang's research includes identifying starch structural characteristics affecting rice quality; characterizing the structure and function relationship of starch; developing modified starch via chemical, physical and enzymatic means for novel food and pharmaceutical applications; improving starch functionality and quality in cereals through processing; and developing value-added products from agricultural by-products.

The Cereals & Grains 23 meeting theme explored the science and research at the center of agriculture, exploring ways to safeguard the future and ensure access to safe, nutritious and sustainable food sources for families worldwide.​

The Cereals & Grains Association is a global, nonprofit association of nearly 2,000 scientists and food industry professionals working to advance the understanding and knowledge of cereal grain science and its product development applications through research, leadership, education, technical service and advocacy.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.