Peter Raspor - Biography#

Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Eng. Food Sci@Tech., Dr. Dr. h.c.mult, Peter Raspor, Slovenia

Peter Raspor, doctor of biotechnological sciences, professor of industrial microbiology and biotechnology, teaching and researching at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He started as a baker and later he finished his education and graduated in food science, followed at biochemical engineering to enter biotechnology field. He was Head of Chair of Biotechnology, Biotechnical Faculty, Food Science and Technology Department from 1992-2013, Head of Graduated studies in biotechnology from 1996-2000. Head of Undergraduate study of biotechnology from 2003-2006 and Head of Microbiology from1998-2003 and 2008-2013 He established post diploma studies in biotechnology and followed by diploma studies of Biotechnology at Biotechnical Faculty and has headed Chair of biotechnology, microbiology and food safety from its start 1992 till 2013. He also established Institute for food, nutrition and health at University of Primorska in 2014 and he was Vice dean for research and international cooperation at Faculty of health sciences from 2014-16. He is a professor in Euroleague for Life Sciences programme “Safety in the Food Chain” (MSc SIFC), as well professor at University of Vienna in Nutrition studies and University of Maribor and University of Ljubljana with his own course. Under his mentorship more than 100 students have finished studies in area of food technology and biotechnology with diploma and 35 at doctoral level from the total of 240.

He conducted more than two dozens international and national projects in the last 20 years. From 1995 to 2015 he has been active with COST, having different functions up to president of TC and vice-president COST Domain committee for food and agriculture. From 2007-2010 he was President of EFFoST (European Federation of Food Science and Technology) with 80 societies in 21 European countries with about 150 000 members. He was the Secretary General of (FEMS) Federation of European Microbiological societies from 2000 to 2006 dealing regularly with 54 member societies with about 40000 members. He is also involved with other international and national governmental and nongovernmental organizations in particularly active with European Declaration on Food Technology and Nutrition for health, since 2008. He is a member of many scientific and professional societies and a member of editorial boards or editor in highly respected journals in the field. He has more than 1500 registered items in research database, among them he published 180 top scientific publications, more than 60 book chapters and he edited more than dozen books. At the same time he organized more than 60 national and international meetings of large importance for food and microbiology and biotechnology filed, he is a regular lecturer of international audience. In the last years he was invited to at least 140 events in that area. His professional profile is highly respected in the area of food technology and nutrition, industrial microbiology and biotechnology and lately in food safety area.

For his contribution to science and education he received a few awards like, “100 years of Virology” medal from All-Russian Scientific Council of Virology for academics, of Republic of Slovenia gave him for State award achievements in the high education in 2003 and Medal Of Excellence of University of Ljubljana for achievements in teaching and research in 2007, and in 2011 Jesenko award for life achievements given by his Faculty for exceptional results, among other awards. The echo of his work elected him to prestigious position at different universities and academia’s, like Doctorem Honoris Causa from Universitatis de Sancto Stephano, Gödollö, Hungary in 2002, University of Pecs, Hungary in 2003, Universität für Bodenkultur, Wien, Austria in 2014, and become member of International Academy of Food Science and Technology IAFoST in 2008, Academia Europaea in 2011 and international member of Academia Scientiarum Technicarum Croatica (Croatian Academy of Engineering) in 2015 . He became fellow of Academic Council of The University for Peace in 2010 as active member of ECPD (European Centre for Peace and Development) erected by United Nations. He received recognition of CEFood community in 2012 for its foundation and development on the occasion of 10th anniversary and Plenčič medal of Slovenian Society of Microbiology as highest prize for scientific contribution to microbiology. Professionally he is also involved as auditor for ISO 9000 standards and ISO 22000 in terms of HACCP and food safety management issues for more than 20 years in food and pharmaceutical sector. In the last years he also conducted and chaired a few commissions performing international auditing of quality management systems at prestigious universities on pedagogical and research level.