Expert researchers
Fanshawe's Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) has a wealth of expert researchers specializing in food innovation and sustainable buildings and automation. A great example is Dr. Kamal Al-Rafea, who works with the biotechnology processing/production and food processing technology industries in developing methods for improving industrial processes. Josie Olaveson is another one of our premier researchers, who has worked with emerging food industry enterprises such as My Active Snacks to develop novel recipes and processes for optimal commercialization.
Partnering with community organizations and leveraging College resources, our researchers are helping businesses leap ahead competitively in their respective industries. Explore the drop-downs below to learn more about our roster of researchers.
Ravi Kanaparthi, M.Eng - Bio-materials and Biochemical Engineering
Research specializations: Ravi is a professor in the School of Applied Science and Technology at Fanshawe. He is a multi-disciplinary research specialist with experience in the fields of polymer science, chemical engineering, analytical chemistry, biotechnology, material science and engineering design.
At CRI, Ravi connects with industry partners from various sectors to solve a variety of challenges across multiple industries with innovative solutions.
Background: "Research stretches my mind and challenges my ability to think outside the box, which leads to new possibilities," says Ravi. "Managing a research project helps me master the literature, improve my planning skills, helps me to find strengths in the team, helps me to identify checkpoints, and allows me to work with a diverse group of talented individuals."
Ravi is passionate about working with students: "Research and education strongly complement each other," Ravi says. "Working with students brings new energy and excitement to the project. It makes you a better researcher, teacher, and mentor."
Mustafa Khdair, IE and ASQ CMQ/OE - Industrial Engineering
Research specializations: As a seasoned quality management leader, Mustafa enjoys delivering holistic business solutions to address top-priority business challenges. His research specializations at CRI help companies with business process management, production scale-up through automation, operations performance management, project management and operating model development. These are key areas along the unique R&D journey that each business takes to ensure operational readiness to scale up and successfully execute growth strategies.
Background: "I love supporting entrepreneurs and SMEs in analyzing their business operations to design and implement solutions for revenue growth and operational efficiency enhancement," says Mustafa.
Mustafa is an industrial engineer, certified management consultant and certified manager of quality/organizational excellence and brings more than 20 years of experience to help businesses with their growth development challenges. "I enjoy working with and supporting CRI’s industry partners’ project team in defining business challenges and recommending effective solutions," he says. "This supports companies in efficiency enhancement initiatives and bottom-line improvement."
Josie Olaveson, MBA, RSE – Food Innovation Scientist
Research specializations: As a professor in Food Processing - Operational Leadership within the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts at Fanshawe College, Josie has a specific research interest related to increasing sustainability in dairy production.
Background: Josie holds a Masters of Business Administration in Food and Agribusiness, trained at the Stratford Chefs School and is a Red Seal Certified chef with 25 years of experience supervising many professional kitchens, developing restaurant concepts and recipes and contributing to the local food movement in Southwestern Ontario.
Josie leads projects at CRI that aim to solve industry challenges related to developing new and improved food products with growing agri-business enterprises. Examples of work she is involved in include: improving ice cream formulations for special diets; developing casein food products; and advising on the manufacturing process related to probiotic yogurt production.
Working with student research assistants is particularly enjoyable for Josie: "When I have the opportunity to work with students on a project, I am constantly amazed by the creative and innovative ideas they bring to a project. And I couldn’t be prouder when I see how our industry partners are impressed by our student’s level of professionalism."
"What I enjoy most about working on research projects is the dynamic nature of each challenge," says Josie. "With each project comes a renewed sense of curiosity and an enthusiasm for the task at hand. It’s incredibly rewarding to provide knowledge, resources and collaborative solutions to small and medium-sized companies, which can help them to make better research-based business decisions."
Sahar Samimi, PhD - Process Engineering Scientist
Research specializations: At CRI, Sahar focuses on proof-of-concept projects in process and product development for industrial partners. Her research interests combine engineering and natural science with a specialization in process design, bio-extraction, refinement and formulation of high value-added products.
Background: "The most enjoyable part of leading a research project is the opportunity to devise and develop creative, applied solutions; addressing challenges and shortcomings in the health and environmental sectors."
As a professor in the Faculty of Creative Industries, Sahar is excited to train future researchers who will continue leading innovations in food processing. "I find it rewarding to mentor students by immersing them in applied research where they are challenged and can experience the thrill of discovery, innovation and realization," she says. "Applied research learning helps build transferable skills that students can take away and potentially use to approach their own challenges as they enter into an industry career. CRI is a state-of-the-art applied research center that drives collaboration and innovation, empowers industry and community partners allowing students and researchers the opportunity to learn and grow in rich experiential learning environments."
With over 15 years of professional experience as a process engineering scientist, Sahar has led multidisciplinary research and tech-transfer projects in academia and industry.
Jennifer Wright, BDes - Sustainable Fashion Industry Research Expert
Research specializations: At CRI, Jennifer has been a primary investigator exploring topics surrounding fashion sustainability, fashion and the environment, unethical labour issues within the industry, skills training for newcomers to Canada and others with barriers to employment, PPE (primarily reusable facial masks for protection from the Covid-19 virus), viable micro-manufacturing, garment re-manufacture and re-make and circularity.
Her current major research project combines research into apparel skills training for newcomers to Canada and others with barriers to employment, intentional design that tells the narrative of the detrimental social and environmental impact of fast-fashion, diversion of textile waste from landfill through the re-manufacture of apparel and social enterprise to support skills training. This all creates a more sustainable way of thinking about apparel and reduces the fashion industry's waste footprint.
Background: Sustainability to create a more livable world is the foundation of all CRI research and Jennifer applies that lens to her work in fashion industry research as a professor of fashion design in Fanshawe's Faculty of Creative Industries.
Jennifer became a professor and researcher after 22 years of employment in the fashion and apparel industry as a designer, product developer, freelancer and entrepreneur. Her teaching specialties include visual communications, fashion illustration, computer illustration, portfolio development, business and entrepreneurship and global sourcing.
"The key to the research that I do is community collaboration," says Jennifer. "CRI supports building the community partnerships that enable the research projects to thrive. Opportunities to work with the community lead to very positive social and environmental change and provide great experiential learning for students."
An experienced teacher, Jennifer enjoys inspiring future innovators in the fashion industry: "I believe in bringing together teaching and research to offer unique experiential learning to students outside of the four walls of a classroom, encouraging them to be social and environmental change-makers within their chosen field of work. It is so rewarding to watch students identify possibilities to make change within their community."
Looking to contribute your research expertise to exciting projects at CRI? Contact research@fanshawec.ca