Alisha Aggarwal
Houston,TX
Summary
R&D professional with rich background in driving innovative solutions and managing high stakes projects. Known for fostering team collaboration and delivering tangible results in Rapidly evolving environments. Expertise in strategic planning and technical knowledge ensures adaptability to changing needs.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
R&D Manager
Dessert Holdings
Humble, Texas
04.2024 - 02.2026
- Achieved successful product development and launch by leading cross-functional teams.
- Led culinary commercialization team to develop innovative desserts aligning with customer preferences and market trends.
- Implemented optimized process workflows that reduced development time and increased efficiency in R&D.
- Developed and maintained project timelines for team, ensuring adherence to deadlines while managing resource allocation effectively.
- Supported collaborative projects and worked closely with technical teams to deliver gains in production MUV.
- Managed R&D budgets, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to support project goals and overall company objectives.
- Presented findings and updates to senior leadership, providing actionable insights that enabled strategic decision-making processes.
- Championed a collaborative work environment within the R&D team through open communication channels and regular team-building activities.
Product and process specialist
Bakerly, NORAC USA
Easton, Pennsylvania
02.2022 - 03.2024
- Led cross-functional product review panel with sales, finance, quality, R&D, and operations to evaluate product performance and develop actionable company-wide plans.
- Achieved a significant reduction in manufacturing costs optimizing process and ingredients while maintaining product quality.
- Supported plant operations through technical recommendations and investigations across multiple production lines to enhance operational efficiency.
- Effectively commercialized multiple new products to full-scale manufacturing
- Designed and executed training programs for production hires, promoting continuous learning and skill development among employees.
- Implemented innovative process automation tools, resulting in reduced manual labor and increased productivity.
R&D Project lead
Bakerly, NORAC USA
Easton, Pennsylvania
10.2020 - 01.2022
- Led innovation and improvement projects for R&D product team, managing milestones and timelines to enhance project outcomes.
- Streamlined communication within the team, leading to better project coordination and timely completion of tasks.
- Revamped sensory evaluation program through automation in testing and developed training programs, enhancing efficiency and accuracy of sensory analysis.
- Influenced the strategic direction of R&D programs by providing critical data-driven insights to senior management.
- Initiated ASL studies benefiting R&D and QA departments, improving collaboration and productivity.
Research Assistant
Illinois institute of Technology / FDA
Chicago, Illinois
07.2017 - 03.2020
- Collaborated with researchers and scientists to design and execute experiments, enhancing research methodologies.
- Analyzed research data using statistical software to prepare detailed reports for PI, facilitating informed decision-making.
- Executed experiments in microbiology laboratory while adhering to OSHA protocols and guidelines to ensure safety and compliance.
- Presented research findings at conferences, contributing to the advancement of the field
Education
Master of Science - Food Safety And Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL05-2020
Master of Science - Food Science And Technology
Guru Nanak Dev University
Amritsar, India05-2016
Bachelor of Science - Food Technology
Delhi University
Delhi, India 05-2014
Skills
- Project management
- Stage-gate management
- Vendor collaboration
- Technical support
- Team leadership
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Conflict resolution
- Adaptability
Certification
Project management google certificate, 2023, Corsera
Timeline
R&D Manager
Dessert Holdings
04.2024 - 02.2026
Product and process specialist
Bakerly, NORAC USA
02.2022 - 03.2024
R&D Project lead
Bakerly, NORAC USA
10.2020 - 01.2022
Research Assistant
Illinois institute of Technology / FDA
07.2017 - 03.2020
Master of Science - Food Safety And Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Master of Science - Food Science And Technology
Guru Nanak Dev University
Bachelor of Science - Food Technology
Delhi University