Lu Zhang

Dr. Lu Zhang is an Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Food Process Engineering, Wageningen University, leading the Additive Food Assembly group. Her research focuses on 3D food printing, complex food systems, and material science, aiming to personalize nutrition through advanced food processing technologies. She holds a PhD from Wageningen University (2018) and degrees from Xiamen University (BSc and MSc in Chemical Engineering). Her team includes seven PhD students, a postdoctoral researcher, and a technician, specializing in diverse fields like chemical engineering and food technology.

Current projects include PRINTYOURFOOD (decoupling food composition and texture), ROBOFOOD (edible robots), and ROBOFOOD (robotic food systems). Her work explores food material behavior under process conditions, composition impacts on printability, and adaptive printing controls. She teaches courses on product/process design and automation in food manufacturing, funded by the NWO Sectorplan Mechanical Engineering.

Research interests extend to residue valorisation and bakery products, with expertise in thermal inactivation kinetics and food formulation. Publications span 3D printing innovation, material characterization, and food processing optimization. Grants and collaborations support her team's interdisciplinary approach to future food systems.