Ali Demirci

Ali Demirci is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, where he leads research in food safety engineering and sustainable bioprocessing. His work bridges agricultural engineering with microbiology to develop innovative solutions for food safety and bioresource utilization.

His research program focuses on three interconnected domains:

• Non-thermal Food Safety: Development and characterization of pulsed UV light, electrolyzed oxidizing water, and ozone for microbial inactivation on food surfaces and equipment
• Advanced Bioreactor Systems: Design of biofilm bioreactors for enhanced production of high-value compounds like menaquinone-7 and nisin using immobilized microbial cultures
• Waste Valorization: Conversion of agricultural byproducts (particularly distillers' dried grains) into biofuels, enzymes, and functional food ingredients through optimized fermentation processes

Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals a strategic research trajectory toward sustainable bioprocess intensification. His work increasingly integrates circular economy principles, focusing on non-sterile processing, waste stream utilization, and techno-economic feasibility. Key technological threads include biofilm reactor scalability, lignocellulosic enzyme optimization, and pulsed light decontamination systems for industrial implementation.

Professional recognition includes being honored as part of the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences faculty by a national society in October 2024, highlighting his contributions to agricultural engineering.

Dr. Demirci's research program demonstrates strong industry relevance through development of practical technologies for food safety enhancement and agricultural waste conversion. His collaborations span microbiology, food science, and chemical engineering disciplines, with publications appearing in leading journals including Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, Journal of Food Engineering, and Food and Bioprocess Technology. Current projects focus on scaling biofilm reactor technologies and integrating first- and second-generation bioethanol production systems.