Sunandita Ghosh is developing highly clear whey protein beverages. Most protein drinks are thick and unpleasant because proteins are sensitive to the high heat used during pasteurization, which is required for shelf‑life stability. This Purdue technology addresses problem at the molecular level by modifying the proteins themselves, an environmentally friendly process which doesn’t rely on adding stabilizers or other ingredients, resulting in a cleaner formulation.
For Ghosh, one of the biggest lessons from the Purdue Innovates Commercialization Fellowship has been learning successful innovation requires more than strong science; it also requires understanding what potential industry partners really need.
Since beginning the fellowship, Ghosh has immersed herself in customer discovery, completing more than 60 interviews with stakeholders ranging from beverage manufacturers and ingredient suppliers to venture capital representatives and end users. Those conversations helped reshape the direction of her technology development efforts.
Faculty Advisors: Da Chen
Initially, when I went to talk to industry, I thought because there’s a patent pending and there’s a peer reviewed article on it, it’s ready to be licensed.
Feedback from industry revealed a different priority: demonstrating that the technology could perform reliably at commercial scale. As a result, Ghosh shifted her efforts toward de-risking the technology, including pilot-scale testing and development of a ready-to-drink beverage prototype.
Rather than additional optimization, potential industry partners want clear evidence that the our beverages could scale and succeed in real-world applications.
The fellowship also provided opportunities to participate in Purdue Innovates programs including Firestarter and Market Readiness. Ghosh was also selected for the 2026 AgriNovus Velocity and Invest In Women Founders Capital Readiness accelerators.
For Ghosh, the experience has reinforced the importance of moving innovations from the lab to real-world impact by combining scientific expertise with market insight.
Visit the Purdue Innovates website to learn more about the Commercialization Fellowship.
Media contact: Polly Barks, phbarks@prf.org
