Profile
Dr John-Lewis Zinia Zaukuu is a Food Scientist, researcher and consultant with established expertise in near-infrared spectroscopy, chemometrics and machine learning for food-quality assessment, safety assurance and adulteration detection. His research integrates spectroscopy, analytical chemistry and artificial intelligence to develop rapid, non-destructive and practical solutions for food authentication, contaminant detection and quality prediction.
He has published extensively in internationally recognised journals, supervised and evaluated postgraduate research, reviewed competitive research grant proposals, and contributed to scholarly publishing as an Editorial Board member of Scientific Reports, Guest Editor and peer reviewer for several international journals. He is a member of the Ghana Young Academy and the International Aquaphotomics Society.
At KNUST, he has provided academic and operational leadership as Examinations Officer in the Department of Food Science and Technology and played a key role in advancing the Department’s laboratories towards ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. He is also the Founder of the Food Testing and Traceability Laboratory, Ghana, an initiative dedicated to advancing rapid food-quality assessment, authentication, traceability and data-driven food-safety solutions.
Beyond academia, Dr Zaukuu provides consultancy in spectroscopic method development, chemometric and machine-learning modelling, food authentication, spectral data interpretation and laboratory quality systems. His work bridges scientific innovation and practical application, contributing to stronger food-safety systems, consumer protection and the competitiveness of the food industry.
Email: zaukuu.jz@knust.edu.gh
Collaboration and Consultancy
Dr Zaukuu is available for interdisciplinary research collaboration, postgraduate supervision, external thesis examination, grant and manuscript review, professional training and consultancy in food testing, food authentication, spectroscopy, chemometrics, machine learning, calibration development, laboratory quality systems and food traceability.
Research Interests
Near-infrared and visible spectroscopy
Chemometrics and multivariate data analysis
Machine learning and deep learning in food science
Food authentication and adulteration detection
Rapid and non-destructive food-quality assessment
Mycotoxin and contaminant detection
Hyperspectral imaging and Raman spectroscopy
Food traceability and digital food-quality systems
Postharvest quality assessment
Development and transfer of spectroscopic calibration models