INFORM June 2026

20 INFORM JUNE 2026 , VOL. 37, NO. 6

HONORED STUDENT AWARD & PETER AND CLARE KALUSTIAN AWARD

more than 200 presentations, and holds multiple patents. Dr. John is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Senior Fulbright Scholar. An active AOCS member, he con tributes as a session organiz er and leader within the EAT Division. SUPELCO AOCS RESEARCH AWARD the George Holmes Uni versity Distinguished Professor at the University of Nebras ka–Lincoln and Director of the Center for Plant Science Inno vation. With nearly 30 years of experience, his research fo cuses on plant lipid biochem istry, metabolic engineering, and sustainable oil produc tion. His work has led to the discovery of novel fatty acids and innovations in bio-based fuels and feedstocks. Dr. Ca hoon holds 35 U.S. patents and has authored more than 185 publications. He is a Fellow of both the National Academy of Inventors and the AAAS. AOCS YOUNG SCIENTIST RESEARCH AWARD XIAOHONG SUN Dr. Xiao EDGAR B. CAHOON Dr. Edgar Cahoon is

Dalhousie University specializ ing in food chemistry, protein science, and sustainable pro tein innovation. Her research explores protein and peptide structure–function relation ships to enhance food quality, functionality, and bioactivity. She has received prestigious funding, including an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, and focuses on developing val ue-added protein ingredients from plant and marine sourc es. Dr. Sun’s interdisciplinary approach supports the ad vancement of sustainable and resilient food systems. HONORED STUDENT & MANUCHEHR (MANNY) EIJADI AWARD PURLEN the University of Nebraska– Lincoln, where she earned her doctorate in Food Science and Technology. Her research focuses on sustainable technologies using supercritical carbon dioxide to develop innovative lipid-based food systems. She has authored multiple publications and received numerous research awards. Actively engaged in the AOCS community, she serves in student leadership roles within the Edible Applications Technology Division, contributing to communications and outreach efforts. SEZER OKUR Purlen Sezer Okur is a Research Associate at

TIMILEHIN DAVID OLUWAJUYITAN

Timilehin David Olu wajuyitan is a doctoral candidate at

the Univer sity of Man itoba, specializing in plant protein science. His research examines the functional and bioactive properties of fava bean proteins and peptides, with an emphasis on sustain able processing methods. In addition to his academic work, he serves as President of the university’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Society. He is an active member of AOCS and other professional orga nizations and is committed to advancing innovation in sustainable food systems. HONORED STUDENT AWARD CHENGE (CHARLEY) WANG Chenge doctoral candidate in Food Science at Rutgers Universi ty. Her research focuses on lipid oxidation mechanisms in monounsaturated oils. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wiscon sin–Madison and is an active (Charley) Wang is a

hong Sun is an Assistant Professor at