Jitendra Paliwal, Vice President of Research and Innovation, University of Winnipeg

Jitendra Paliwal is vice president of research and innovation at the University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg) and an adjunct professor at the University of Manitoba (U of M).

Paliwal earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering in India, followed by a master’s and PhD in biosystems engineering at the U of M. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife. Their two children are following a similar path to their father: one is studying engineering, while the other is studying geology at the U of M.

Where did you work before UWinnipeg?

I arrived at the U of M as a graduate student and never left (until last year). I was there for nearly 30 years, including my time as a student, then a professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and eventually associate dean (academic and graduate programs) in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. It has been a rewarding journey, and I’ve met many wonderful people along the way.

Tell us a bit about your research over the years.

My research focuses on the storage and quality monitoring of crops grown in Manitoba. I primarily employ optical techniques, using visible and non-visible light to monitor and enhance the quality of various agricultural commodities.

In one project, “Decontaminating stored flax,” which is funded in part by Manitoba Crop Alliance, we are using what is known as advanced oxidative processing. Through this process, we combine UV light, ozone and hydrogen peroxide to zap microbes, so the crop stays free of any kind of microbial growth.