Shashank Chevendra

Innovation projects:

• Formulated new complete and balanced canine and feline kibble diets for different life-stages and breed sizes.
• Lead projects from bench-top to commercialization stages.
• Organized and lead test/commercial runs at co-manufacturing facilities, analyzed nutritional, palatability and digestibility reports to finalize nutritionally and operationally feasible formulas.
• Collaborated with high level cross-functional team players to provide technical information, project cost analyses, potential risks, risk mitigation strategies and other key project charter information.
• Conducted shelf-life studies, authored, and maintained relevant technical documents.
• Trained and mentored lab technicians in innovation and renovation projects.

Renovation projects:

• Initiated and successfully reverse engineered competitor wet food canine and feline formulations.
• Successfully lead a project on probiotics applications in canine and feline kibble diets and reformulated over 20 diets.
• Initiated projects to reformulate existing wet/kibble/ blended kibble formulas to follow AAFCO guidelines and be cost-effective.
• Reformulated products that were affected due to Covid-19 related ingredient shortages and kept the existing GA claims and feeding guidelines, with minimum pricing changes.

International regulations:

• Managed Instinct Pet Food’s Asian market registrations, and USDA authorized export documentation.
• Worked with existing and new potential other international clients and maintained good working relationship.

• Conducted bench-top experiments and attended production trials for new product development projects.
• Developed new dairy formulas with lactose-free milk products.
• Conducted research and lab studies on lacto-peroxidase system in milk for improved shelf life.
• Super user in Infor M3 ERP system and Genesis and conduct internal audits.
• Conducted testing in raw receiving, microbiology, and analytical labs.
• Technologies: charm EPIC system, cryoscopy, pH meter, homogenizer, antibiotic analyzer, FT1, FT120.
• Organized and conducted organoleptic testing for internal and external departments.
• Collaborated with processor engineers on Tetra Pak processing interface.
• Collaborated with supply chain operations, production, process engineering and other teams.

Product Development:

• Formulated new products and followed AAFCO guidelines.
• Designed and conducted experiments from bench-top to production trials.
• Successfully saw the new product launch.
• Evaluated raw materials and bench-top samples using microbiological and analytical methods.
• Continuously collaborated with quality, marketing, operations, procurement, sales, customer service and other cross-functional teams.
• Evaluated secondary suppliers by ingredient procurement and comparing the functionality with the existing ingredients.
• Played a lead role in developing the company’s first ingredients and formulas database on ESHA cloud using Food Processor Nutritional Analysis Software.

Regulatory:

• Conducted internal audits and assisted the leadership team in external audits.
• Updated specification sheets, country of origin certificates, and guaranteed analysis claims to follow the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements.
• Interacted with various personnel from ingredient supplier facilities and co-packer facilities on a regular basis and maintained excellent relationships.
• Conducted consumer market research for new line extensions for existing product lines.

• Determined the effects micro-minerals such as copper, zinc and manganese at different concentrations and from organic and inorganic sources on steer performance traits, carcass characteristics and liver trace mineral status.
• Conducted studies with various feed formulas and evaluated them.
• Performed meta-analysis using PROC MIXED procedures in SAS.

• Certified ServSafe Food Protection Manager.
• Formulated and developed new food recipes in the kitchen each semester.
• Collaborated with the on-campus and internationally acclaimed Chefs.
• Organized nutrition documentation and trained kitchen staff, student workers for State and County audits.
• Proposed and executed new HACCP procedures.
• Supervised and trained employees (40-50) in the kitchen and on customer service daily.
• Mentored and guided new student leaders.

• Organized tours at CSU ARDEC farms and labs for students.
• Conducted labs, troubleshoot technical challenges, grade exams, and maintain student records.

• Worked on quality analysis of software applications.
• Trained in basics of Structured Query Language (SQL).

• Worked on CYP2D6 gene polymorphism in head and neck cancer.
• Conducted studies on gene polymorphism and mutational analysis and drug metabolism.
• Worked using PCR, HPLC, gel electrophoresis.