Gilliland elected Institute of Food Technologists Fellow
Friday, May 15, 2009
Stanley Gilliland
(May 15, 2009 Stillwater, Okla.) – A food microbiologist at the Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, located on the Oklahoma State University campus, was elected Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Fellow in 2009.
Stanley Gilliland, Regents Professor and Sitlington Endowed Chair in the department of animal science, received the Fellow designation for his research on probiotic cultures and their benefits for humans and livestock, as well as his role as an educator and student mentor.
“It’s always nice to be recognized among your peers,” Gilliland said. “To be recognized as an IFT Fellow is a great honor.”
The designation as a Fellow is a unique professional distinction conferred on individuals with outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience for their contributions to the food science and technology field.
Gilliland received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in dairy manufacturing before going to North Carolina State University to earn his doctorate degree in food science.
The Regents Professor and Sitlington Endowed Chair currently teaches both upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in addition to previously serving as coordinator of the food science graduate program. In recent years, Gilliland has used more than $500,000 of intellectual properties royalty to fund graduate assistantships and purchase laboratory equipment.
“Outstanding graduate students are the backbone of university research programs,” Gilliland said.
Because of his expertise in the areas lactobacilli and probiotics, Gilliland has traveled to seven countries outside of the U.S. to present lectures and symposia papers, including a presentation to the World Health Organization.
During his tenure at OSU, Gilliland has published more than 100 journal articles, authored 24 book chapters, presented 114 papers at scientific meetings and received 24 extramural grants worth several million dollars.
In addition to his outstanding academia accomplishments, Gilliland assisted in the development of the FAPC and was interim director when the center first opened its doors, said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director.
“Stanley Gilliland is an essential contributor to our research efforts here at the FAPC,” Escoubas said. “His involvement in multiple research projects demonstrates the strength of his research capabilities and the value of his research laboratory to the FAPC, the department of animal science and the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.”
IFT has conferred the Fellow designation on a select number of professional members every year since 1970. A complete list of Fellows can be found on the IFT Web site at: http://www.ift.org/cms/?pid=1000287.