Research Associate, at Food Technology & Biotechnology, Croatia.
Dr. Goran Gagula is a distinguished Croatian food and biotechnology engineer with over 25 years of multidisciplinary experience. He earned his PhD in Biotechnical Sciences from the University of Osijek’s Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology. Goran progressed from hands-on roles in quality control and process engineering in Croatian food and beverage industries to leadership positions in major breweries and public institutions. Alongside his advisory roles in environmental, safety, energy, and ESG domains, he has leveraged his expertise in academia—teaching at several Croatian universities. Goran’s career seamlessly bridges industry, government, consultancy, and research, showcasing his commitment to quality assurance, innovation, and sustainable practices. He holds numerous professional certifications in EHS, ISO standards, HACCP, and leadership, and has contributed significantly to food technology research and education.
Professional Profile
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🎓 Education
Goran Gagula’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology (Biochemical Engineering) from the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology. He then earned a Master’s degree in Food Technology from the University of Osijek, deepening his technical and scientific expertise. He further pursued postgraduate specialist studies at the same faculty, earning an MSc in Food Quality and Health Safety—a certification emphasizing public health and regulatory compliance. Culminating his formal education, Goran obtained a Doctor of Biotechnical Sciences (PhD) through the University of Osijek’s doctoral program in Food Technology & Biotechnology, achieving the academic rank of research associate. His education provided comprehensive grounding in biochemical engineering, food safety protocols, quality assurance systems, and applied research methodology.
🧑💼 Experience
Goran brings over two decades of professional experience spanning public, private, and academic sectors. He served as Senior Expert Adviser to Croatia’s Ministry of Health (2021–2023), spearheading accreditation systems in clinical care, food safety, and information security. Concurrently, he consults at Brewery Osijek, overseeing quality, EHS, ESG, energy, technical operations, and organizational strategy. As an associate lecturer at hospitality and applied sciences institutions, he teaches food, beer technology, and pilot brewery operations. Earlier, he advised the Ministry of Environment and Energy on EU‑level waste/sustainability policies, and worked with EHS consultancy. His leadership roles include Director of Technology at Brewery Osijek (2008–2016) and technical-technology director at Interbrew/InBev’s Grude brewery (1999–2007), overseeing full-cycle operations, large teams, and multi-million‑euro budgets and investments.
🔬 Research Interests
Goran’s research intersects the fields of food science, brewing technology, packaging, and predictive microbiology. He investigates how packaging materials influence beer quality, aroma, and physicochemical stability, employing chemometric and modeling techniques. His work extends to modeling the growth dynamics of probiotic bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium animalis) in various dairy and plant-based substrates, supporting functional food development. He also explores process optimization in brewing—especially stabilization, centrifugation, and sensory profiles—aimed at enhancing flavor and shelf life. Other interests include waste and energy management in food production, implementing HACCP and ISO systems, pilot brewery innovations, and sustainable best practices in food safety, environmental impact, and resource use efficiency.
🏅 Awards & Certifications
Goran holds an impressive portfolio of professional certifications which underscore his multidisciplinary expertise. He passed Croatia’s State Professional Exam administered by the Ministry of Administration and is a certified “Responsible Person for Hazardous Chemicals” via the Institute of Public Health. From the Ministry of Labor, he earned Level I & II Expert credentials in Health and Work Safety. He is a Specialist of Health & Safety from the Public Open University Zagreb. Lloyd’s Register certified him as an EHS expert and EHS auditor (ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001). His training includes wastewater/drinking water control, HACCP and ISO 9001/22000 food-safety systems, leadership & project management, and finance for non-financial managers. His expertise has been recognized by economic chambers via licenses in environmental and workplace safety.
📚 Top Noted Publications
Goran has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, advancing understanding in food packaging, brewing, and microbial modeling. Notable articles include:
• “Changes in the Physicochemical Properties of Pale Lager Beer during Storage in Different Packaging Materials” (Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists, 2022) – cited by study on shelf‑life extension.
• “The influence of packaging material on volatile compounds of pale lager beer” (Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 2020) – referenced in packaging science research.
• “Predictive modeling of Bifidobacterium animalis… in cow’s, goat’s and soy milk” (Mljekarstvo, 2013).
• “PLSR modelling of quality changes of lager and malt beer during storage” (Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 2016).
He also contributed to international conference proceedings on malting procedures and protein solubility in cereals. These works demonstrate his broad impact across food technology and brewing science.
🔗 Publications with Links
Here’s a single‑line listing of Goran’s journal publications, with titles linked and years/journals included:
1. Changes in the Physicochemical Properties of Pale Lager Beer during Storage in Different Packaging Materials
Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists (2022)
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Objective: Tracked 6-month storage effects of brown glass bottles, PET bottles, aluminum cans, and stainless-steel kegs at 20 °C.
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Measured Parameters: Extract, specific gravity, ABV, pH, color, bitterness, polyphenols, haze, dissolved oxygen, CO₂, foam stability.
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Key Findings:
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PET-packaged beer exhibited the largest variations in haze, color, and dissolved oxygen.
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Glass and keg storage showed highly similar stability (r = 0.971), whereas PET deviated more from glass (r = 0.870) Reddit+15Tandfonline+15CoLab+15.
2. The Influence of Packaging Material on Volatile Compounds of Pale Lager Beer
Food Packaging and Shelf Life (2020)
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Objective: Examined how glass bottles, PET bottles, cans, and kegs impact 11 volatiles (e.g., acetaldehyde, diacetyl, dimethyl sulfide) over six months.
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Key Results:
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PET bottles showed significantly higher diacetyl and pentanedione levels than other packaging.
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Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) after six months: 5 µg/L in PET vs. 48 µg/L in glass.
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Aluminum cans and kegs preserved volatile stability best Scribd+3CoLab+3AGRIS+3.
3. PLSR Modelling of Quality Changes of Lager and Malt Beer during Storage
Journal of the Institute of Brewing (2016)
4. Predictive Modeling of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb‑12 Growth in Cow’s, Goat’s and Soy Milk
Mljekarstvo (2013)
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Objective: Developed models predicting the growth of probiotic B. lactis Bb‑12 in cow, goat, and soy milks.
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Impact: Widely referenced in later microbial modeling research for probiotic viability tactics (e.g., MBAA, predictive microbiology literature).
Conclusion
Goran Gagula is highly suitable for the Best Industrial Research Award. His proven ability to integrate quality systems, optimize production processes, initiate green and safe practices, and influence national policy makes him an ideal candidate, especially for awards that value holistic and interdisciplinary contributions to industrial R&D.