South Dakota State University Distinguished Professor Kasiviswanathan “Muthu” Muthukumarappan received honors from two professional organizations this summer, recognizing his work in food and bioprocess engineering.
Muthukumarappan was named a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists at the organization’s meeting in Chicago in July. He was also recognized by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers at its international meeting in Indianapolis later.
Muthukumarappan has been a member of the SDSU faculty since 1997 and has served as the Klingbeil Endowed Department Head of the university’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering since June 2022, according to SDSU. He was promoted to distinguished professor in February 2013.
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His work focuses on food and bioprocess engineering. SDSU said he has held leadership positions in the Food and Process Engineering Institute and represented the institute on its Standards Council.
The Institute of Food Technologists fellowship is its highest honor for a member. Muthukumarappan was one of 10 people selected as fellows this year. He also received the organization’s Outstanding Service Award for his contributions and service to the Minnesota section of IFT.
According to Kumar Mallikarjunan, a University of Minnesota researcher who supported Muthukumarappan’s nomination, Muthukumarappan has more than 35 years of research and mentoring experience in the food processing sector.
SDSU said Muthukumarappan has secured 65 grants as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator, totaling more than $20 million. His scholarly work includes more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and more than 350 regional, national and international presentations.
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One area of his research involves developing a methodology to evaluate cheese functionality. SDSU said the methodology is used by companies including Pizza Hut and Schreiber Foods to fine-tune cheese ingredients for properties such as meltability and stretchability in pizza applications.
The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers honored Muthukumarappan with its 2026 Lalit and Aruna Verma Award for Excellence in Global Engagement.
His international work includes long-term research collaborations with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in India, where he received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering, as well as institutions including University College Dublin in Ireland and the University of Sydney in Australia.
Muthukumarappan is a former Fulbright-Nehru Research Scholar and Fulbright Specialist. SDSU said he has delivered keynote addresses and provided technical expertise in more than a dozen countries and served as an external examiner for graduate programs worldwide.