Lili He, professor and head of the department of food science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, received the inaugural Phi Tau Sigma Mid-Career Accomplishment Award. Phi Tau Sigma is the honor society for food science and technology. Its new award recognizes members who have made impactful contributions to food science and technology, closely allied industries, and society. Recipients must have between 10 and 20 years of professional experience.
Professor He is an internationally recognized researcher in analytical food chemistry and food safety. By integrating innovative spectroscopic technologies with translational approaches, she aims to address critical challenges in food safety, food quality, and public health. Professor He’s work has resulted in 165 peer-reviewed publications, patented technologies, and real-world applications, including the startup BactiSee, which provides rapid and reliable detection of bacteria on surfaces in food processing plants, hospitals, gyms, and other public environments.
A UMass Amherst faculty member since 2012, Professor He is the founding director of the Raman, IR, and XRF Core Facility at the university’s Institute for Applied Life Sciences. She was named head of her department in 2023.
Professor He earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Zhejiang University in China and her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri.