Professor Janis Swan

Qualifications: M.Tech. (Biotech) Massey Ph.D. (Chem. Eng.) Waterloo. Member, Society of Chemical Engineers New Zealand, IPENZ Professional Member, New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, New Zealand Order of Merit (M.N.Z.M.)

Contact Details

• Calling +64 7 838 4466  then enter the extension
• Direct dialling +64 7 838  then extension (for extensions starting with 4)
• Direct dialling +64 7 858  then extension (for extensions starting with 5)
• Emailing username@waikato.ac.nz
• Using the campus map to locate their room

Research Interests

• Bioprocess engineering
• Large-scale separations
• Engineering education
• Engineering planning

Adding value to New Zealand’s biological materials is vitally important to our economy. Too many of our products are being exported as commodities. We need to identify the requirements of the end-user and tailor our products to meet these needs. Rather than being commodity items, our food exports should be regarded as food ingredients. To do this, we need to understand the factors that affect the functionality of the biological materials we produce.

My areas of research are in understanding the factors that affect the functionality of meat, and how to use meat in added-value products. I am also interested in adding value to the co-products of the meat industry. The latter have traditionally been regarded as waste streams that need to be processed to reduce treatment costs. Other interests include identifying and improving the unit operations of a given process, and in energy efficiency.

Teaching Areas/Programmes

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering
• Engineering design, research and management

Academic and Professional Leadership Roles

• Associate Dean of Engineering, University of Waikato, 2005 - ongoing
• Chair, New Zealand Council of Engineering Deans, 2009 - ongoing
• Council member, Marsden Fund, 2010 -
• Chairperson, Department of Engineering, 2006-2008
• Chairperson, Department of Materials and Process Engineering , 1997-2003
• Academic Board, University of Waikato, 2005 - ongoing
• Leader of Engineering Accreditation Team, 2006, 2008
• Organising Committee, NZIFST annual conference, 2004, 2008
• National Committee, Society of Chemical Engineers New Zealand, 2006-2009
• Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics Quality Accreditation Panel, 2008-ongoing
• Member of Review Team, Massey University’s Engineering qualifications, 2008
• Member of IPENZ Accreditation panel, Massey’s Bachelor of Engineering programmes, 2007
• NZBio Board member, 2003-2004
• Vice-President, New Zealand Federation of University Women, 1994-1997
• Member of Ministerial Task force for Crown Research Institutes, 1991-199

Awards/Honours

• Member of New Zealand Order of Merit, MNZM, for services to engineering, 2009
• Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, 2006
• Fellow of the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand, 2005

Students Supervised

MSc

Paula Woods

PhD

Azila Binti Adnan

Teaching Commitments

Expertise

Bioprocessing; adding value to biological products, meat byproducts and meat product processes; food processing.

Recent Publications

• Williams, P., Swan, J., Cooper, B., Forret, M. (2011) The role of engineering in a career change pathway into technology teaching
  Conference - Proceedings - Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Conference for the Australasian Association for Engineering Education
• Li, L., Nair, G., Swan, J., Langdon, A. (2010) Hydrogen production, acetic acid recovery and pH control by gas stripping an acid anaerobic sludge
  Conference - Full Paper - Chemeca : Engineering at the Edge
• Cooper, B., Swan, J. (2010) From carpenter to teacher: Partnerships to support career changers into technology teacher
  Conference - Proceedings - International Council for Associations for Science Education (ICASE) 2010 3rd World Conference on Sc
• Li, L., Langdon, A., Nair, G., Swan, J. (2009) Recovering commodity chemicals from anaerobic digestion
  Conference - Oral Presentation - New Zealand Postgraduate Conference

View All research publications by Janis Swan

Science & Engineering - Creating the Future!