Elankovan Ponnampalam

Elankovan Ponnampalam has extensive work experience in process engineering and research and development. Elankovan currently holds the role of Senior Director in Process Engineering at UPSIDE Foods. Prior to this, they worked at JUST as the Senior Director of Process Science, Research and Development. Elankovan also held positions at Solazyme, Inc. as Senior Director and head of pilot plant fermentation and downstream processing, and as Director. Additionally, Ponnampalam worked at Codexis as the Director of Fermentation and Bioprocessing, and at Dairy Innovation Australia as a Senior Chemical Engineer, managing separation and purification projects. Elankovan also worked at TATE & LYLE WORLD WIDE as an Engineering Research Fellow in Process Engineering and Development. Ponnampalam's earliest work experience was at MBI International, where they started as an Engineer and worked their way up to become the Director. At MBI International, they managed a team and oversaw the development of membrane-based separation processes.

Elankovan Ponnampalam holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology. Elankovan went on to pursue a Master's Degree in Food Engineering at Michigan State University. Elankovan later obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering from the same university. Additionally, Elankovan earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Michigan State University as well.