James Kenar |
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Phone: (309) 681-6360
Fax: (309) 681-6685
Room 1200
USDA ARS NCAUR
1815 N University St
Peoria IL 61604
Biography and Research
James Kenar is an ARS-USDA research chemist at NCAUR in Peoria, Illinois since 1999. After receiving a B.S. in chemistry from Bradley University, Peoria, IL and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in physical organic chemistry, he conducted postgraduate research at the Duke University in Durham, NC. His research interests include the chemical and physical modification of lipids, oils, and starches and focuses on starch and pulse processing technologies, amylose inclusion complexes, and starch aerogels. Currently, he is a member of a team of scientists conducting research on the, “Improved Utilization of Whole Pulses, Pulse Fractions, and Pulse Byproducts for Health-Promoting Food Ingredients and Biobased Products”. The goals of this research are to develop value-added products and applications from pulses and other agriculturally derived materials to develop new ingredients having enhanced nutritional and functional benefits. These objectives are accomplished using chemical, enzymatic, and processing methods.