Dr. Krithika Venkatachalam is an experienced academician and researcher specializing in Nutrition and Dietetics, Food Processing Technology, Food Science, Food Safety, and Value Addition of Agricultural Products. She has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Vellalar College for Women, Erode, since December 2018. Prior to this, she served as an Assistant Professor at PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, in Food Processing Technology and Clinical Nutrition (PG) from 2015 to 2018. She has also contributed as a Senior Research Fellow at the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR, Regional Centre, Coimbatore, from 2013 to 2015.

Research & Publications

Dr. Krithika has demonstrated sustained research engagement in functional foods, nutraceuticals, food processing, food preservation, nutritional characteristics, phytochemicals, microencapsulation, and food safety. Her scholarly contributions include research papers, review articles, popular articles, book chapters, and books. Her publications address topics such as grape seed extracts, chilli cultivars, banana products, paprika oleoresin, nutraceuticals from noni, nutritional labelling, and value-added food products. She has also participated in and presented her research at more than 10 international conferences.

Books & Scholarly Contributions

She has authored and contributed to several academic publications, including the 2024 book A Visionary Volume on Home Science and the Tamil book Kaikuthal Arisi Unavu Vagaikal. Her book chapters cover areas including silicon packaging for extending the shelf life of perishables, agro-processing business models, post-harvest technology of chilli, and bioprospecting and its applications.

Awards & Recognitions

Dr. Krithika has received several academic and professional recognitions, including the Junior Scientist of the Year Award 2016 from the National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi, and the Academic Excellence Award 2016 from PSG College of Arts & Science. She was recognized as a Certified International Mentor in 2024, received the IRSD Teaching Excellence Award in 2024, and was honored with the AGAR – Best Educator Award 2025.

Teaching, Training & Extension Activities

Beyond classroom teaching, Dr. Krithika has actively contributed to community education, farmer training, food and nutrition awareness, food safety, and skill development. She has delivered lectures and training programmes on HACCP and food safety, enterprise-based value addition, millet-based ready mixes, fruit and vegetable preservation, sanitation and hygienic practices, and food and nutrition. She has also provided refresher training for Cook and Cooking Assistants of Noon Meal Programmes and Anganwadi personnel.

Professional Development

She has continuously strengthened her academic and research expertise through workshops, conferences, training programmes, and faculty development activities in research methodology, academic integrity, plagiarism, curriculum design, outcome-based education, sensory analysis, consumer science, texture analysis, ISO 9001:2015 quality management, and entrepreneurship in food processing.

Eligibility for Iconic Women Scientist Award

Dr. Krithika Venkatachalam demonstrates strong eligibility for the Iconic Women Scientist Award in Scientific Laurels through her sustained contributions to nutrition, food science, food processing, academic teaching, research, scientific publications, professional training, and community outreach. Her long-standing academic career, research publications and books, international conference participation, multiple recognitions including the Junior Scientist of the Year Award, Teaching Excellence Award, and Best Educator Award, together with her contributions to food and nutrition education, establish her as a distinguished woman academician and researcher. Her interdisciplinary work connecting nutrition, food technology, agricultural value addition, food safety, and public-oriented nutrition education further reflects the qualities associated with an Iconic Women Scientist.