
Derrick Risner
PhD, Food Science and Technology, UC Davis
Derrick Risner is a US Air Force veteran who also aims to leave his mark on the food system through enhanced sustainability practices.
His most recent work at UC Davis in the Food Science & Technology lab of Dr. Edward Spang resulted in an in-depth techno-economic assessment (TEA) of alternate animal protein production, and a first of its kind web-based computational tool for scenario-based assessment of projected costs. This cost calculator has the potential to broadly inform future activity and investment in the sector.
Derrick brings diverse expertise to his research, with an engineering technology undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University, a master’s in Food Science & Technology from Oregon State University, and now a follow-on doctoral candidacy at UC Davis.