Dr. Josip Simunovic
Co-founder and Science Advisor
Dr. Josip Simunovic is a Research Associate Professor with the Department of Food, Bioprocessing
and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University. His work, alongside an accomplished N.C.
State team, led to Aseptia’s patented aseptic technology that enables the production of food
products that maintain freshness, flavors and nutrients without using preservatives.
As a result of his career’s work, Simunovic has gained national and international recognition as one
of the leading researchers on the advanced thermal processing of foods. His research with
continuous flow microwave heating technology led to the first commercial implementation of a
continuous flow microwave sterilization process to produce shelf-stable low-acid foods.
Simunovic has more than 25 years of experience in research, development and implementation of
novel methods, devices and processes for advanced thermal processing and aseptic packaging of
foods and biomaterials. He works with Aseptia and its subsidiary, Wright Foods, to implement
these developments to innovative processing solutions for production of nutritionally superior
foods.
Acting as lead inventor and co-inventor, Simunovic has contributed to approximately 60 issued or
pending U.S. and international patents. Some of Simunovic’s other accolades include the 2008 Food
Engineering Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers as well as –
with his N.C. State team – the 2009 Food Technology Industrial Achievement Award from the
Institute of Food Technologists, the 2010 USDA/ARS Technology Transfer Award and the 2012
Marvin Tung Award from the Institute for Thermal Processing Specialists. N.C. State also named
Simunovic the 2012 Innovator of the Year and honored him with the 2014 Chancellor’s Innovation
Fund Award.
Simunovic received his Bachelor of Science in food technology from Josip Juraj Strossmayer
University of Osijek, located in Osijek, Croatia, Simunovic’s hometown. He earned his Master of
Science in food science and human nutrition from the University of Florida and his Ph.D. in food
science from N.C. State.
723 West Johnson Street • Raleigh, NC 27603 • aseptia.com