Prabin Koirala
Ph.D. in Food Chain and Health from the Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Finland. Transforming food waste into nutrition solutions—bridging science, sustainability, and health.
About Me
I recently completed my Ph.D. in Food Chain and Health at the Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Finland. My research focused on upcycling of brewers' spent grain via in situ synthesis of dextran and oligosaccharides by lactic acid bacteria, with a mission to transform food waste into nutrition solutions.
Doctoral Thesis
"Upcycling of brewers' spent grain via in situ synthesis of dextran and oligosaccharides by lactic acid bacteria: Regulatory mechanisms and effects on gut microbiota metabolites"
Defended: July 1, 2025
Research Focus
Lactic acid bacteria fermentation
Brewers' spent grain valorization
Dextran biosynthesis
Gut microbiota metabolites
Research Grants
Finnish Cultural Foundation
1 year grant of 28,000 €
Finnish Food Research Foundation
4,500 €
Key Technical & Research Skills
Comprehensive expertise in food biotechnology, microbiology, and analytical chemistry.
Fermentation Biotechnology
Bacterial and yeast fermentation for upscaling of food matrices
Microbial Analyses
Microbial growth assessment, API 50 CH carbohydrate utilization profiling, Biolog for phenotypic assessment and growth monitoring
Molecular Biology
DNA/RNA extraction, real-time quantitative PCR, clonings, gene expression and regulation, RNA seq data interpretation
Carbohydrate & Metabolite Analysis
HPAEC-PAD, UPLC for mono/di/polysaccharides, Gas Chromatography for sugar alcohols, HPLC for organic acid quantification
Food Product Development
Composite bread, yogurt and morning cereals formulations, quality assessment (texture, moisture retention, fiber content)
Gut Microbiota Research
In vitro digestion (SHIME®-based gut simulation), food intervention studies, metabolite analysis (SCFAs, amino acids), fecal sample processing
Protein Analysis
Protein extraction, SDS-PAGE, enzyme activity assays
Viscosity Measurement
Using rotational rheometer by Anton Paar
Research Experience
My research focuses on food microbiology, fermentation, and valorization of food industry by-products.
Technician (HealthFerm Project)
Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki
August 2024 - May 2025
Doctoral Researcher
Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki
January 2019 - July 2025
Research Assistant
Willem M. de Vos Research Group, Haartmann Institute, University of Helsinki
Master's Thesis
Willem M. de Vos Research Group, Haartmann Institute, University of Helsinki
Research Lab Training
Cyanobacteria lab, University of Helsinki
Advance Research Training
Willem M. de Vos Research Group, University of Helsinki
Publications
Peer-reviewed publications from my research career.
Regulation of sugar metabolism during fermentation of brewers' spent grain by Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM20193
Koirala, P., Ndegwa, M., Mojzita, D., & Coda, R. Microbial Biotechnology. Accepted for publication on 09.02.2025
Impact of pre-treatments and bioprocessing on the carbohydrate and polyphenol profile of brewers' spent grain
Moirangthem, K., Koirala, P., Maina, H. N., Rai, D. K., & Coda, R. (2024). Food and Bioproducts Processing, 148, 62-71.
Effect of LAB starters on technological and functional properties of composite carob and chickpea flour plant-based gurt
Demarinis, C., Verni, M., Koirala, P., Cera, S., Rizzello, C. G. & Coda, R. Future Foods. Jun 2024. 9, 11 p., 100289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2023.100289
Antifungal peptides from faba bean flour fermented by Levilactobacillus brevis AM7 improve the shelf-life of composite faba-wheat bread
Verni M, Wang Y, Clement H, Koirala P, Rizzello CG, Coda R. Int J Food Microbiol. 2023 Dec 16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37748395/
Brewers' spent grain as substrate for dextran biosynthesis by Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM20193 and Weissella confusa A16
Koirala, P., Maina, N.H., Nihtilä, H., Katina, K., Coda, R. Microbial Cell Factories. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-021-01515-4
Fermented Brewers' Spent Grain Containing Dextran and Oligosaccharides as Ingredient for Composite Wheat Bread and Its Impact on Gut Metabolome In Vitro
Koirala, P.; Costantini, A.; Maina, H.N.; Rizzello, C.G.; Verni, M.; Beni, V.D.; Polo, A.; Katina, K.; Cagno, R.D.; Coda, R. Fermentation 2022, 8, 487. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation8100487
Seminars & Workshops
Presentations and participation in academic conferences and workshops.
FEMS 2023
Flash presentation: "In vitro effects on gut metabolites of fermented brewers' spent grain containing dextran and oligosaccharides"
9-13th July 2023, Hamburg, Germany
HELMIKOLLOKVIO
Presenter: "Biosynthesis of dextran and glucooligosaccharides by lactic acid bacteria during fermentation of brewers' spent grain: regulatory mechanisms and effects on gut microbiota"
3rd Feb 2023, Helsinki, Finland
Viiki Food Science Seminar
Presenter as Doctoral candidate: "Valorization of brewers' spent grain for food applications using lactic acid bacteria fermentation"
9th June 2022, Helsinki, Finland
Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology (RIBB)
Invited speaker: "Valorization of brewers' spent grain for food applications using lactic acid bacteria fermentation"
14th Jan 2022, Kathmandu, Nepal
2nd International Conference on Microbial Food & Feed Ingredients
Oral presentation: "Brewers' spent grain as substrate for production of dextran and oligosaccharides using lactic acid bacteria, regulation of dextransucrases and fermentation performance"
13th Nov 2021, Copenhagen, Denmark
8th International Conference "Biotechnologies, Present and Perspectives"
Oral (virtual) presentation: "Brewers' spent grain as substrate for synthesis of dextran by lactic acid bacteria: regulation of dextransucrases and fermentation performance"
5th Nov 2021, Suceava, Romania
8th Congress of European Microbiologists (FEMS 2019)
Poster presentation: "Synthesis of oligosaccharides by Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193 and Weissella confusa A16 by fermenting brewers' spent grain and malt syrups"
7-11 July 2019, Glasgow, Scotland
Health Grain Forum Workshop & Kaisa Poutanen's Honorary Symposium
Poster presentation: "Synthesis of oligosaccharides by Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides DSM 20193 and Weissella confusa A16 by fermenting brewers' spent grain and malt syrups"
17-18 June 2019, Espoo, Finland
Get in Touch
I'm open to research collaborations and discussions about my work. Feel free to reach out.
Referees
Rossana Coda (University Lecturer)
Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki
rossana.coda@helsinki.fiKati Katina (Professor)
Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki
kati.katina@helsinki.fiNdegwa Henry Maina (Associate Professor)
Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki
henry.maina@helsinki.fi