Monica Giusti is a professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology. Her research focuses on the chemistry and functionality of flavonoids. Her goal is to make foods healthier without losing sensory appeal, such as taste and texture. In 2018, Mars Inc., maker of M&Ms, patented Giusti’s method of extracting red, purple, and blue plant pigment. This method will allow candy companies to remove all synthetic dyes and incorporate nutritional value without changing the flavor of the product.
She has won many awards over the course of her research, including the 2013 Ohio State Early Career Innovator of the Year and the 2017 Educator Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers in Agriculture. She is also a member of the American Chemical Society and the Institute of Food Technologists.
In 2014, van der Knaap was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.