Vic Morris

Research Leader

Research Area: Imaging

Contact Details:

Institute of Food Research,
Norwich Research Park,
Colney, Norwich,
NR4 7UA
UK
vic.morris@ifr.ac.uk

Research interests

My research at IFR centres on the description of molecular structure in complex multi-component foods, identification of structure-function relationships and their use for rational selection, processing or design of food materials in order to improve quality. This has during my time at IFR involved the use of various techniques and disciplines including carbohydrate analysis, x-ray diffraction techniques, rheology, light scattering, physical chemical characterisation of biopolymers and probe microscopy.

In the last 5 years I have capitalised on the pioneering development of the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in food science. I have used these techniques to generate a complete understanding of the inter-molecular process involved in the stabilisation of food foams and emulsions, to identify novel structural changes during starch biosynthesis that can be exploited to manipulate starch function and design, and to define structures and molecular interactions of cell wall polysaccharides responsible for novel function and bioactivity.

This research is described in more detail at http://www.ifr.ac.uk/spm/research.html.