Profile
Dr. John-Lewis Zinia Zaukuu is an accomplished Food Scientist, researcher, and consultant whose work sits at the cutting edge of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), chemometrics, and machine learning for food quality evaluation, safety assurance, and adulteration detection. His research combines advanced analytical chemistry, spectroscopy, and artificial intelligence to develop rapid, non-destructive techniques for authenticating, monitoring, and predicting food quality and safety, addressing critical challenges in food fraud, regulatory compliance, and food security.
He has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and has supervised and evaluated postgraduate research (both internally and externally) in food analysis, sensor-based monitoring, and data-driven safety systems across several international universities. Dr. Zaukuu has been invited by national and international funding bodies to review, assess, and evaluate competitive research grant proposals, demonstrating his standing as a trusted scientific assessor and thought leader in food innovation and analytical research.
Dr. Zaukuu serves on the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports (Springer Nature) and has acted as a Guest Editor for other prestigious international journals in food science and spectroscopy. His editorial and peer-review activities reinforce his reputation for excellence in analytical methods, chemometric modelling, and food authenticity research.
He is a member of several distinguished professional organizations, including the Ghana Young Academy, the International Aquaphotomics Society, and other scientific networks promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and policy influence in food systems research.
Within KNUST, Dr. Zaukuu provides strategic academic and operational leadership as the Examinations Officer (regular & IDL) of the Department of Food Science and Technology. He also led the Department’s laboratories toward achieving ISO/IEC 17025 international accreditation, making KNUST the only University in Ghana to have such status and one of only three regulatory bodies in the whole of Ghana with this accreditation. This is a milestone that enhances the department’s analytical credibility and compliance with global quality standards.
Beyond academia, he has provided consultancy services to industries and research institutions in Ghana and internationally, offering expertise in spectroscopic method development, chemometric data interpretation, and food quality assurance systems. His work continues to bridge science and industry, translating research innovations into practical solutions that strengthen food safety, consumer trust, and trade competitiveness.
Contact Dr. Zaukuu (zaukuu.jz@knust.edu.gh or izaukuu@yahoo.com ) for further details or visit his Orcid profile: