Ya-Jane Wang, professor in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will deliver an invited talk at the Kick-Off Networking Event hosted by the Ozark Section of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the largest professional organization for food-related scientists and industry professionals.

The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in Room D1/D2 of the Food Science Department Building, located at 2650 N. Young Avenue, Fayetteville. This event is open to the public, with no registration fee required.

"The IFT–Ozark Section recently launched the Invited Talk Series, 'IFT Ozark Connect: Stories That Inspire,' and we are truly honored to welcome professor Ya-Jane Wang as our first invited speaker for this initiative," said Han-Seok Seo, president of the IFT–Ozark Section. "Dr. Wang has made outstanding contributions not only to our food science community in Northwest Arkansas, but also to the global community, as a professor, mentor, collaborator, volunteer, and citizen. Her talk will highlight lessons and insights gained throughout more than 30 years of experience in both academia and industry."

Wang's presentation is titled "The Other Side of the Fence - My Experience in the Food Industry."

About the Speaker: Ya-Jane Wang

Ya-Jane Wang is a professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Arkansas and a researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. She is an internationally recognized expert in starch chemistry and functionality.

Wang earned her B.S. in Agricultural Chemistry from National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, followed by an M.S. in Food Science from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from Iowa State University. She completed 1.5 years of postdoctoral research in starch chemistry at Iowa State University before spending five years as a Senior Carbohydrate Specialist at Cerestar (now Cargill).

Since joining the University of Arkansas in 1999, Wang has conducted pioneering research on the relationship between starch structure and functionality, with particular emphasis on rice quality and the modification of starches through chemical, physical, and enzymatic approaches. Her work has broad applications in both the food and pharmaceutical industries and has significantly advanced scientific understanding of starch-based ingredient systems.

Event Schedule

• 6:00-6:30 pm: Registration, Welcome, Networking, and Food (supported by IFT Ozark Section and the Department of Food Science) 
• 6:30-6:45 pm: Kick-Off and Introduction of the 2025-2026 Leadership Team
• 6:50-7:30 pm: Invited Talk (IFT Ozark Connect: Stories That Inspire) - Speaker: Dr. Ya-Jane Wang (Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas)
• 7:30-7:40 pm: Kimchi & Beverage Pairing (supported by the Global Center for K-Food)
• 7:40-8:00 pm: Networking
• 8:00 pm: Adjourn

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by Tuesday, Nov. 18, using the link below:

RSVP: https://forms.gle/ahg9KWaxz2VK1zG3A