"Let's move toward a balanced food industry with
less food waste & ​more sustainable packaging"

- DR. CLAIRE SAND

Dr. Claire Sand

Founder, Owner & Global Food Packaging Expert

Global Packaging Leader with 30+ years of broad experience in the food science and packaging spectrum. Skilled at leading cross-functional efforts, infusing innovative solutions, providing compelling business technology strategies and business cases, and pragmatic implementation roadmaps for the packaging and food industry.

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MEET THE TEAM

Dr. Ziynet Boz

PTR Team Process & Packaging  Research Associate
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Sonali Raghunath

PTR Team Packaging Research Associate
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Sravanthi Budaraju

PTR Team Product Research Associate
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Katie Mahoney

PTR Team Marketing & Project Management Associate
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Dr. Claire Sand

 

Current Affiliations:
Owner and Founder
Packaging Technology and Research, LLC (formerly Ameripak).  Stillwater, Minnesota.  1996-present
Adjunct Professor

1. University of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minnesota Curriculum development and teaching, 2018-present
2. Michigan State University.  E. Lansing, Michigan Online MS program, 2007-present
3. California Polytechnic University (CalPoly), San Luis Obispo, California Online program, 2017-present

Columnist
Food Technology monthly magazine
Packaging monthly column, 2015-present
 
Current Leadership:

1. pac, Co-Chair Food Waste, 2018-present
2. IUFoST, Chair of Global Food Packaging Curricula, 2016-present
3. Packaging Science and Technology, John Wiley and Sons, Editorial Board and Reviewer, 2004-present
4. Journal of Food Science Reviewer, 2014-present
5. Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Higher Education Review Board (HERB), 2014-present
6. Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Executive Board, Food Packaging Division, 1990-present
7. Strategic Relations & Chapter Affairs committee Phi Tau Sigma (food science honorary society), 2014-present
8. Lifetime member of Phi Tau Sigma
9. University of Minnesota Alumni Association and CFANS, 1992-present
10. Member of IoPP
11. Human Rights Commission Stillwater, Minnesota, 2013-present
12. Workforce Development Commission Stillwater, Minnesota, 2014-present
13. Advisor at Food and Beverage Wisconsin (FaB)– Incubator, 2017- present
14. Advisor at Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), 2017 - present

 
Expertise is based on experience in basic research, development market research, and marketing in Germany, Colombia, and Thailand and at Total Quality Marketing, Nestle, General Mills, Kraft Heinz,  Safeway, and in academia.

Dr. Sand holds a doctorate degree in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and MS and BS in Packaging from Michigan State University

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Respectful leadership in packaging

To view Dr. Claire Sand's resume, click here.

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Dr. Ziynet Boz
PTR Team Process & Packaging Research Associate

 

Skilled at leveraging engineering skills in food packaging in combination with process engineering regardless of the product type. A 2013 with Fulbright Scholarship Program PhD. studies student, Ziynet is skilled in creating innovative approaches in a highly applied field of packaging. 

Notable Recognitions include:

• PATENT: Welt B.A. and Boz Z., U.S. Patent Application, “Semipermeable Capsule Improves Flexible Package Performance”, Patent Application No. 62/362,713. Licensed to FreshSurety Corp. Winter Park, FL (2016)
• Outstanding Service Award Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) – Food Packaging Division 2017
• Empowering Women in Technology Startups (ewits) 1st Place Winning Technology Business Plan, Florida Innovation Hub 2014​

PICKED FROM
​Award Recognitions Include:

• Graduate student research competition – 1st Place ($1000) – Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) 2017
• Outstanding Service Award Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) – Food Packaging Division 2017
• Finalist at the 48 Hours Re-Pack Competition, project “Delicious®” a deli meat packaging design 2017
• Outstanding Volunteer Award Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) – Food Packaging Division 2016
• 3-Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition – Runner Up Award by Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida 2015
• Empowering Women in Technology Startups (ewits) 1st Place Winning Technology Business Plan, Florida Innovation Hub 2014
• Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Networking Competition Winner ($500) 2016
• summa cum laude, Mersin University Department of Food Engineering (Highest GPA) and College of Engineering (Second highest GPA) 2009

​
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University of Minnesota in the Food Science and Nutrition Department Ph.D. student with a MS degree in food science. Sonali concentrates on food engineering, food packaging, dairy science, and food protein and her research helps PTR clients explore optimal packaging techniques.  

Notable Recognitions include:

• Feeding tomorrow General graduate scholarship award 2019, Feeding tomorrow – Scholarship America
• 1st place for Ocean spray product development team, University of Minnesota, 2019 Food Science and Nutrition fellowship award 2018
• • Students Innovation award for the best interdisciplinary project from Center for Technology Development and transfer, Anna University, India,2017

 
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Sonali Raghunath
PTR Team Packaging Research Associate

Sravanthi Budaraju
PTR Team Product Research Associate

Experienced Graduate Assistant with a demonstrated work history in packaging. Sravanthi is skilled in Sensory Evaluation, Quality Management, Product Development, Research and Development (R&D), and Food Processing. Strong administrative professional with a Ph.D. focused in Food Science and Nutrirtion from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. ​

Notable Recognitions include:

• IFT Food Packaging/Food Engineering Division Travel Award – June 2019
• Graduate travel award, Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota-September 2018
• Best Graduate Project Award, AB Mauri India Private Limited, India-November 2012

PICKED FROM
Award Recognitions Include:

• • IFT Food Packaging/Food Engineering Division Travel Award – June 2019
• • Best student paper award, Food Engineering Division, AACCI conference, London-October 2018
• • Graduate travel award, Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota-September 2018
• • Outstanding paper award in Processing Division in ASABE conference, Detroit- August 2018
• • AACCI student travel award – August 2018
• • IFT Food Packaging Division Travel Grant – June 2018
• • First place in Graduate Student Poster Competition- April 2018
• • MN-IFT Graduate Scholarship Award – 2018.
• • MN-IFT Graduate Travel Award -2018
• • Graduate Travel Award, Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota-August 2017
• • Pratt Fellowship, Virginia Tech-August 2015
• • Best Graduate Project Award, AB Mauri India Private Limited, India-November 2012

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Katie Mahoney
PTR Team Marketing & Project Management Associate

 

Marketing expert and project manager focused on projects that impact the bottom line. A "roll up your sleeves and get it done" team player with vast experience in leveraging data for project success, as a consultant she helps ensure PTR deliverables are clear and concise.

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Virpi Korhonen
​PTR Team Packaging Associate

 

Start-up entrepreneur, innovator, project manager and researcher specialized in consumer value for packaging. Virpi special expertise in project management, consumer testing, acceptance of new packaging materials and technologies, food packaging, active and intelligent packaging, and research methodologies.

Notable Recognitions include:

• ​xx

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