Helga FRANCIS KEHDI

Faculté des sciences – Maître de conférences

+961 (1) 421 000 ext 3377 helga.francis@usj.edu.lb

Enseignant Profile

Doctor of Chemistry from the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), Helga Francis has solid expertise in the food and packaging sector, with a wealth of experience in teaching, research, and consulting for industry. Holder of a degree in Food Industry Engineering from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie et des Industries Alimentaires in France, she has been laboratory manager of the Analysis and Research Center of the Faculty of Sciences of the USJ since 2008, where she conducts analyses for industry and the public sector, trains interns and participates in innovative research projects. A UNIDO collaborator since 2022, as an international packaging expert, she trains and advises industrial players on packaging standards and processes in developing countries.


Education

Diplôme Université Pays Année
Chemistry Saint Joseph University of Beyrouth Lebanon 2023
Master BANT Institut national polytechnique de Lorraine (INPL) France 2006
Food engineering (Packaging subspecialty) Institut national polytechnique de Lorraine (INPL) France 2006
Chemistry Saint Joseph University of Beyrouth Lebanon 2004
Chemistry Saint Joseph University of Beyrouth Lebanon 2003

Teaching at USJ

Enseignant Ens a USJ
Introduction à l’emballage et étiquetage.Emballage et conditionnement.Polymères en industries alimentaires.Cycle de vie d’un produit alimentaire.Chimie de coordination.

University teaching outside USJ

University teaching outside USJ Pays Institution Start date End date
Food packaging course Lebanon Université Libanaise (UL) 01/09/2010 31/12/2014

Professional experience outside USJ

Professional experience Organisation Start date End date
International Packaging Expert Unido 01/08/2022

Areas of expertise

Enseignant Discipline
Engineering and Technology, Sciences

Research themes

Enseignant Thematique

Innovation en procédés alimentaires.Matériaux d’emballage et durabilité.

Publications and communications

Enseignant Publi and Com

•Salem, Y., Sunoqrot, S., Rajha, H.N, Abusulieh, S., Afif, C., Francis, H., Touma, J., Louka, N., Maroun, R.G. (2024). Grape seed phenolic extracts encapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles: Characterization in vitro evaluation against skin melanoma. Journal of Drug Delivery Science Technology, Volume 100, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2024.106094.•Francis, H., Debs, E., Maroun, R., & Louka, N. (2024). Enhancing Wheat sprout attributes using “Intensification of Vaporization by Decompression to the Vacuum”, an innovative drying–texturizing technology. Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 515 https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040515•Francis, H. Debs, E. Koubaa, M.; Alrayess, Z.; Maroun, R.G.; Louka, N. (2022) Sprouts use as functional foods. Optimization of germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeds based on their nutritional content evolution. Foods 2022, 11, 1460. https://doi.org/10.3390/ foods11101460•Francis, H., Debs, E., Maroun, R., & Louka, N. (2020). An eco-friendly process for the preservation of natural nutritious sprouts. 2020 5th International Conference on Renewable Energies for Developing Countries, REDEC 2020, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1109/REDEC49234.2020.9163874

Useful links

Awards and distinctions