Adjunct Professor
University of California, Davis
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
3018 Bainer Hall
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
Tel: 530-752-4367
Email: zlpan@ucdavis.edu
Websites:
https://faculty.engineering.ucdavis.edu/panz/
https://research.engineering.ucdavis.edu/panlab/dr-zhongli-pan/
Research Interests:
• Improving the values and safety of agricultural products and their components through new and improved post-harvest and processing technologies.
• Characterizing the physical, chemical, and rheological properties of agricultural and food products.
• Modeling and optimizing food processing for improving efficiency and sustainability.
Professional Experience:
| 2011 – Present | Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis. |
| 2003 – 2018 | Research Engineer, Healthy Processed Foods Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS. |
| 2015 – 2016 | Director of World Food Center – China Program, University of California, Davis. |
| 2006 – 2011 | Associate Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis. |
| 2000 – 2006 | Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis. |
| 1998 – 2000 | Manager of Far East Technical Service, Division of Research, Archer Daniels Midland Co. |
| 1994 – 1994 | Pilot Plant Technician, American Meat Protein Company. |
| 1992 – 1993 | Business Manager, Huamei International Company. |
| 1985 – 1988 | Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University. |
Expertise:
Dr. Pan has been conducting fundamental and applied research and development in novel and new processing and biorefinery technologies for food and agricultural products and their byproducts for improving nutrition, value, quality, sustainability, efficiency and food safety. The food related research has been focusing on (1) drying (infrared-, air-, spray-, drum- and freeze-drying); (2) infrared heating technologies for peeling, blanching, roasting, stabilization, disinfestation and disinfection; (3) ultrasonic assisted processing; pulsed light technology; (4) extrusion; separation; extraction; wet and dry milling; (5) thermal and chemical modifications; (6) characterizations of thermal, chemical, physical, and rheological properties of agricultural and food products; (7) food-processing equipment and system design; (8) numerical modeling of heat and mass transfer and optimization of food-processing; and (9) food quality evaluation and control. The non-food related research devoted to biobased materials, biofuels and bioenergy, including development of bio-based adhesive, agricultural product-based particleboards, pretreatment of agricultural wastes or by-products for production of sugars/bioethanol and biogas. The research used various advanced methods, including magnetic resonance imaging, dynamic vapor sorption, dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning colorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy, etc.
Dr. Pan has authored more than 350 publications, including 212 peer reviewed journal papers, 17 patent applications, 3 books (lead editor) and 30 book chapters. He has mentored over 100 graduate students, post-docs and visiting professors from 17 countries. Dr. Pan presented his research more than 300 times at national and international conferences.
Awards and Honors:
| 2020 | Fellow – Institute of Food Technologists |
| 2020–present | Member of Phi Tau Sigma – The Honor Society of Food Science and Technology |
| 2019 | Fellow – American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers |
| 2019 | May 1st Labor Honorable Medal – Jiangsu Province, China |
| 2019 | AE50 Award – American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers |
| 2018 | Research and Development Award – Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) |
| 2018 | Influential Foreign Expert Award – State Administration of Foreign Experts |
| 2017 | China Friendship Award |
| 2017 | Award for Outstanding Commercialization Success – Federal Laboratory Consortium (Far West) |
| 2017 | Technology Transfer Award – Pacific West Area, USDA-ARS |
| 2017 | Life Achievement Award – Chinese American Food Society |
| 2012 | Distinguished Career Award – Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers |
| 2009 | ASABE Superior Paper Award |
| 2008 | You Bring Charm to the World – Influential Chinese Award |
| 2008 | Outstanding Alumnus of Changfa High School in the Past 50 Years |
| 2007 | The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers |
| 2007 | USDA ARS Herbert L. Rothbart Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award |
| 2005 | Outstanding Service Award – Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers |
| 2003-present | Professional Member of Institute of Food Technologists |
| 1992 | Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Epsilon Member |
| 1990 | Science Advancement Award – Harbin, China |
| 1987 | Best Paper Award – Heilongjiang Section of Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering |
Technical/Professional Society Service and Leadership:
Research and Development Award Committee, IFT (2018-2019)
Chair and Past Chair of IFT’s Annual Meeting Scientific Program Advisory Panel (2018-2019)
Member at Large, Food Engineering Division, Institute of Food Technologists (2018-2019)
Editor of Food Quality and Safety (2017-present)
Panel Chair of Rice Technical Work Group Conference (2016, 2018)
Member of Nomination and Election Committee, Northern California Institute of Food Technologist (2017-present)
Chair of Membership Committee, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineer, California/Nevada Section (2017-2018)
President of Chinese American Food Society (CAFS) (2016-2017)
Vice President of Asian Association for Agricultural Engineering (2009-present)
Trustee of ASABE Foundation Board (2009-2015)
Executive Committee Director of Chinese American Food Society (CAFS) (2013-2016)
Board Member of Session VI of CIGR (2006-2014)
President of Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineers (2008-2009)
Board of Director, Overseas Chinese Environmental Engineers & Scientists Association (OCEESA) (2007)
Executive Board Member and Newsletter Editor of Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineers (2003-2008).