Mark Bechara

Biography

 Currently Director of East Coast Development Center for Microbial product development (fermentation, formulation and pilot scale development activities). Prior to that, Staff Scientist in the BioAg division of Novozymes involved in R&D and production platform development of surface (solid state) fermentation of microbial products that support the BioAg Alliance with Monsanto. Former Director of Production and Operations at Sylvan America. Before his role as head of operations, Mark was a senior research scientist at Sylvan America during which he focused on product development and scale-up in the manufacturing of mushroom spawn (inoculum), biocontrol agents, and nutraceuticals using solid state fermentation.  Prior to this, Mark was an instructor at the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at Penn State in which he taught courses for juniors and seniors in the program.  Mark is a member of the honor societies Gamma Sigma Delta and Alpha Epsilon. He has co-authored several scientific articles and received scholarships and awards for his graduate research. Prior to Penn State, he received a B.S. degree in Agriculture Science from the American University of Beirut.

Research Interest

 Nutraceutica, Fermentation