Yael Vodovotz, PhD

Dr. Yael Vodovotz is a professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at The Ohio State University and serves as Faculty Research Lead for Circular Economy within Ohio State’s Sustainability Institute. Her research spans functional foods, bio-based materials, sustainable packaging and circular-economy innovation, bringing together food science, materials science, health and sustainability.

Before joining Ohio State, Dr. Vodovotz conducted postdoctoral research at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, working on food systems for long-duration space exploration, and later worked with Baylor College of Medicine’s National Space Biomedical Research Institute. At Ohio State, she has led interdisciplinary research connecting agriculture, food, medicine and advanced materials, including work on functional foods and bioplastics.

She brings to the ICF Global Summit a unique perspective on how research, sustainability, circular economies and cross-sector collaboration can drive innovation and create more resilient communities.