University College Cork has announced Chinthya Eugen Roberston as the recipient of the 2025 Musgrave Award for Excellence in Food Microbiology for her innovative research project

13 Jun 2025

Established in 2013, the Musgrave Award is presented annually to the highest-scoring graduate of the MSc Food Microbiology course. It reflects a decade-long commitment to recognising future leaders in food microbiology and strengthening industry-academic collaboration.

Chinthya Eugen Robertson, conducted a standout research project focused on the identification of novel anti-microbial agents through exploration of vast DNA sequences to find previously undiscovered genes. These genes are related to production of these anti-microbial agents and can be used to improve food safety and extend shelf-life and reduce food waste

In recent years, consumers have shown a clear preference towards minimally processed foods and the use of natural preservatives to maintain food safety. This trend presents major challenges for food producers, as harmful microbes can thrive if effective growth-inhibiting measures are not in place. Chinthya’s research focused on identifying natural preservatives that could be incorporated into food preservation strategies, offering the potential to enhance or even replace conventional chemical preservatives.

Ray Bowe, Director of Food Safety & Quality at Musgrave, congratulated the winner:
“Congratulations to Chinthya on her outstanding achievement and on receiving the Musgrave Award for Excellence in Food Microbiology.  Accessing new ways to improve food safety is an important issue for the global food industry. Musgrave is pleased to play a role in facilitating UCC to conduct primary research in this vital area and we look forward to continuing our collaboration into the future.”

Professor Jennifer Mahony, Professor of Molecular Food Microbiology at UCC, also praised this year’s winner:
“Chinthya is a most deserving recipient of this award with a consistently strong performance across her MSc studies. We are grateful to Musgrave for their continued support of the MSc Food Microbiology programme as a leading national food retail providers and distributors. Innovation in food microbiology research is key to securing the food sector in Ireland and beyond.”

Musgrave is proud to have supported academic excellence at UCC for over a decade and looks forward to continuing this valued partnership.