Northern Crops Institute director Brian Sorenson has announced three staff changes at the institute. Thunyaporn Jeradechachai and Staci Lee joined the institute staff this fall, and Rilie Morgan was recently promoted.
“Jeradechachai and Lee are great additions to our staff. They have quickly contributed to our short courses and technical services,” said Sorenson. “Morgan has been with the institute for over two years and has grown in his understanding of grain processing. Promoting him to processing specialist is a testimony of his value to the institute.”
Jeradechachai joined the staff in August as a food technologist and was promoted to crop quality specialist on Dec. 1. Her primary responsibilities include laboratory testing and analysis for the quality evaluation and utilization of pulse and oilseed crops and their co-products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in food science from NDSU, and worked as a student research assistant with the USDA in Fargo. She is a native of Bangkok, Thailand.
Lee began duties as lab manager in October. She assists in evaluation and demonstration of quality and functionality of regionally produced wheat and other crops for the institute’s educational and technical service efforts. She also provides oversight for the institute’s flour quality and baking labs.
Lee previously worked for ADM Milling Co. and Cargill Flour Milling, both in Chattanooga, Tenn. She earned her bachelor’s degree from NDSU in food science. Lee is from Kindred, N.D.
Morgan joined the institute in 2006 and was promoted to processing specialist on Dec. 1. His main duties include operating the institute’s pasta and twin-screw extruders, assisting with durum milling projects, maintaining and operating other processing equipment and keeping ingredient inventories. A Grafton, N.D., native, he is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and NDSU.
The institute supports regional agriculture and value-added processing by conducting educational and technical programs that expand and maintain domestic and international markets for northern-grown crops. It is funded by the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota and commodity groups in those states and Montana.
Dec. 9, 2008