Payal Thakur
Delhi
Summary
Food Systems and Nutrition professional with 4 years of interdisciplinary experience across food systems research, clinical nutrition, food product development, and food safety. Currently a Research Fellow with the Coalition for Food Systems Transformation in India (CoFTI), working on nutrition-sensitive agriculture, dietary diversity, sustainable diets and millet-based food systems, while also working independently as an R&D Advisor and Clinical Nutritionist. Brings hands-on experience in food R&D, product development and quality, with exposure to functional foods, clean-label products and nutritionally enhanced formulations. Recipient of the K. U. Naram Trophy for Academic Excellence from the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India).
Overview
1
1
Certification
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
R&D Advisor & Clinical Nutritionist
Independent Practice
06.2025 - Current
- Advise on functional, clean-label and nutritionally enhanced food formulations, translating nutrition objectives into practical product concepts.
- Work on product formulation, prototype development, ingredient selection, recipe refinement and product feasibility across functional foods and beverages.
- Develop and evaluate concepts including high-protein and millet-based products, with a focus on nutritional profile, ingredient functionality and consumer relevance.
- Developed a clean-label prebiotic beverage prototype using Indian fibre sources and botanicals; currently undergoing formulation trials across multiple flavour variants.
- Apply sensory evaluation, nutritional considerations and product feasibility principles during formulation and refinement.
- Provide individualised clinical nutrition counselling and develop practical dietary interventions based on individual nutritional requirements.
Research Fellow
COFTI INDIA
08.2025 - Current
- Conducted secondary analysis of primary research data from a study examining the impact of agricultural diversification and nutrition behaviour-change interventions on women of reproductive age in Wardha, Maharashtra.
- Working paper: “Impact of Diversified Agriculture and Nutrition Behaviour Change on Women of Reproductive Age in Wardha, Maharashtra” — forthcoming, October 2026.
- Reviewed and synthesised research literature on food-system transformation.
- Contributed to the development and refinement of research outputs, including literature review, evidence synthesis, and technical writing.
- Collaborated with partner organisations and stakeholders, including Food future foundation, GIZ and Welthungerhilfe, on food-systems and nutrition research.
Research & Development Intern
SNACKIBLE
MUMBAI
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Worked on development of high-protein and functional snack products, focusing on ingredient combinations, nutritional positioning and consumer convenience.
- Developed protein-enriched snack concepts including puffed mamra, millet chikki, kachori bites, dhokla chips, baked samosa and jowar cheesy puffs using complementary protein sources.
- Developed millet-based snack concepts and healthier festive assortments, including chakli and quinoa trail bites.
- Supported nutrition labelling, sensory trials, shelf-life evaluation and cost optimisation for product scalability
Food Safety Associate and Dietician
GUJARAT REFINERY HOSPITAL, IOCL
VADODARA
07.2023 - 03.2025
- Provided individualised clinical nutrition assessment, counselling and therapeutic diet planning for patients across metabolic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and other clinical conditions.
- Supported HACCP implementation, food-safety audits and kitchen hygiene monitoring, including training of food-service staff.
- Monitored HACCP critical control points and maintained food-safety documentation to support compliance.
- Conducted food-safety and hygiene assessments across food-service operations and supported implementation of corrective practices.
Product Developer Intern
TRUE ELEMENTS
Pune
07.2022 - 09.2022
- Contributed to the development of 10+ millet-based and health-focused food products, including muesli, granola bars, crackers, poha and upma mix, chikkis and ready-to-eat products.
- Conducted formulation trials and optimisation for taste, texture, nutritional composition and processing parameters.
- Worked on ingredient selection, recipe refinement, nutritional labelling, sensory evaluation and product feasibility.
- Developed and trialled an oats-based bhujia, testing oat, jowar and millet flour combinations and seasoning profiles to optimise crispness and taste balance.
- Worked on a high-protein shake, optimising pea, oat and almond protein ratios and flavouring to improve palatability and reduce beany aftertaste.
- Supported 50 kg batch trials, troubleshooting texture inconsistencies and contributing to a 15% reduction in post-production waste.
Quality Analyst Trainee
AMUL INDIA
Anand
09.2022 - 11.2022
- Gained hands-on exposure to dairy product quality testing, formulation and process optimisation across dairy and chocolate applications.
- Supported formulation trials for functional dairy products, including probiotic-enriched lassi and low-lactose ice cream.
- Assisted in chocolate formulation optimisation, with exposure to viscosity, emulsion stability, mouthfeel and storage performance.
- Conducted microbiological and physicochemical testing and monitored HACCP critical control points to support product quality and food-safety compliance.
Education
PG Diploma - Nutrition, Food Processing & Technology
SNDT UNIVERSITY
Mumbai01-2022
Bachelor of Science - Foods & Nutrition
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Vadodara, GJ01-2021
Skills
Product Formulation & Development
- Food Product Formulation & Prototype Development
- Formulation Trials & Optimisation
- Ingredient Selection & Ingredient Synergy
- Recipe Development & Standardisation
- Protein & Fibre-Enriched Formulations
- Functional & Clean-Label Product Development
- Product Feasibility & Cost Optimisation
- Process Optimisation
Product & Category Exposure
- Breakfast & Ready-to-Eat Products
- Oats & Millet-Based Products
- Muesli & Granola
- High-Protein Snacks & Beverages
- Crackers & Baked Snacks
- Functional Beverages
- Dairy & Functional Dairy
Sensory & Product Evaluation
- Sensory Evaluation
- Consumer Preference Mapping
- Taste & Texture Optimisation
- Shelf-Life Evaluation
Food Quality & Compliance
- Nutritional Labelling
- FSSAI Compliance
- HACCP
- Food Safety & Quality
Research & Technical
- Literature Review & Evidence Synthesis
- Secondary Research & Data Analysis
- Technical Writing
Certification
- ISO 22000:2018 – Food Safety Management Systems
- ISO 9001:2015 (QMS) & ISO 17025 (Laboratory Compliance) — Food Regulation & Compliance Centre
- Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) — Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre
- Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease Specialist — International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
Awards
- K. U. Naram Trophy for Academic Excellence — Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (AFSTI), Mumbai Chapter; awarded for academic excellence in Post-Graduation in Nutrition, Food Processing & Technology.
- Millet Nutrition & Advocacy
Promoted millet inclusion through clinical nutrition counselling, public awareness and food innovation initiatives. - Expert Speaker — “Benefits of Millets” — Delivered an expert session for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Vadodara Unit (2024), promoting millet-based nutrition and wellness.
- Excellence in Clinical Nutrition Services — Recognised at Gujarat Refinery Hospital (IOCL) for contributions to evidence-based dietary optimisation and clinical nutrition services.
Timeline
Research Fellow
COFTI INDIA
08.2025 - Current
R&D Advisor & Clinical Nutritionist
Independent Practice
06.2025 - Current
Research & Development Intern
SNACKIBLE
06.2025 - 08.2025
Food Safety Associate and Dietician
GUJARAT REFINERY HOSPITAL, IOCL
07.2023 - 03.2025
Quality Analyst Trainee
AMUL INDIA
09.2022 - 11.2022
Product Developer Intern
TRUE ELEMENTS
07.2022 - 09.2022
PG Diploma - Nutrition, Food Processing & Technology
SNDT UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science - Foods & Nutrition
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda