UACES Facebook Food science Ph.D. student Jannasch receives cereals and grains research grant
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Nov. 4, 2022

Food science Ph.D. student Jannasch receives cereals and grains research grant

By Robby Edwards
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Fast facts

  • Annegret Jannasch awarded $10,000 research grant by Cereals & Grains Association
  • Jannasch works under direction of Arkansas Ag Experiment Station researcher
  • Funds to be used in study on effects of parboiled waxy cereals

(297 words)

Related PHOTO: https://flic.kr/p/2mxynp1

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Annegret Jannasch, a University of Arkansas graduate student in food science, has been awarded a $10,000 Research Council Grant by the Cereals & Grains Association.

Portrait of Annegret Jannasch
CEREAL STUDY — Annegret Jannash focuses her research on parboiling waxy cereals to enhance viscosity. She recently won a $10,000 research grant from the Cereals & Grain Association. (U of A System Division of Ag photo by Fred Miller)

Jannasch, a doctoral student in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, works under the direction 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 University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The Cerals & Grains Association funds will be used on her study of "Parboiling of Pigmented Waxy Cereals to Enhance Viscosity Development in a Simulated Gastric Environment."

Waxy starch exists in the endosperm of the grains of some varieties of rice, corn, sorghum, millet and barley. The term "waxy" refers to the waxlike appearance of the grain's endosperm when it is cut or broken and does not indicate the presence of true wax. In general, waxy grain starch has a low amylose enzyme content and cooks stickier, Wang said.

As part of the award, Jannasch will be recognized during the opening session of the Cereals & Grains annual meeting in November, present results of her research and submit her findings for publication to the Cereal Chemistry journal by the end of 2024.

In 2020, Jannasch won a video contest sponsored by the Cereals & Grains Association. Her three-minute video was a presentation titled "Limited-Water Parboiling: A Novel and Sustainable Method to Fortify Rice."

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, superior technical service and advocacy.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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.

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Media Contact:

Robby Edwards, director of communications 
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences 
479-575-4625
robbye@uark.edu

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