Ratna Mukherjea, PhD
About Ratna Mukherjea, PhD
Ratna Mukherjea, PhD, is a Senior Director of Food Innovation at Benson Hill, with over 20 years of experience in academic and food industry settings. She has held various leadership roles at DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences and advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the scientific community.
Work at Benson Hill
Ratna Mukherjea serves as the Senior Director of Food Innovation within the Technology Leadership Team at Benson Hill. She has been in this role since 2021, contributing to the company's focus on innovative food solutions. Her responsibilities include leading initiatives that align research and development efforts with market needs, ensuring that the company's innovations meet consumer demands.
Previous Experience at DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences
Prior to her current position, Mukherjea held various roles at DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences from 2010 to 2021. She served as Global Technology & Innovation Leader for Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) and held positions such as Technical Fellow, Associate Director, and Director of Global Nutrition Innovation. Her work involved enhancing innovation pipelines and leading clinical and translational research.
Education and Expertise
Mukherjea earned her PhD in Nutrition from the University of Maryland. She also completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Human Nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Child Development from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Science from Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University.
Background in Research and Development
With over 20 years of experience in both academic and food industry settings, Mukherjea has a strong background in clinical and translational research. She has worked at institutions such as UC Davis Medical Center and Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, where she held positions as Assistant Research Professor and Staff Scientist, respectively. Her expertise includes scouting and idea generation for innovation.
Advocacy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Mukherjea actively advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the scientific community. She serves as a board member, contributing to strategic decision-making and governance, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in research and innovation.