MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Engrain, a grain technology developer, announced on Aug. 13 the hiring of Chris Miller, senior director of research, innovation and quality. Miller brings over 10 years of experience in both research and the milling and food processing industry. 

In his new role, Miller is responsible for establishing the Engrain Innovation Lab in Manhattan, Kansas, U.S., that will serve in a research and development capacity to the McShares, Inc. group of companies, including Engrain, Research Products Company and Viobin USA. Miller will be charged to conduct advanced research in cereal grain protein biochemistry that will advance the quality of products offered in the industry. 

“Our global markets are rapidly changing, and our customers are forced to continually evolve in meeting escalating demands of end consumers. Miller takes Engrain to the next level in our ability drill deeper into our core technologies and in giving breadth to the scope of our future pursuits” says Vaughn Studer, chief executive officer (CEO) of Engrain. In this, Miller and the Engrain lab will continue to work collaboratively with the experts from the Kansas Wheat Commission and Kansas State University (KSU). 

“Chris is a great addition to our already experienced team and will bring his knowledge in enzymes and biological sciences to help us create solutions and new products for our customers,” said Monte White, president and CEO for McShares, Inc.

Prior to joining Engrain, Miller was a faculty member in the Department of Grain Science and Industry at KSU teaching Milling Science and Management to industry personnel. He joined the University in 2009 and at the same time began working on his Ph.D. in biochemistry. Miller successfully defended his doctoral research on wheat and sorghum protein in the fall of 2013 and plans to continue his research at the Innovation Lab. Miller also plans to continue serving the academic community as an adjunct instructor.

Before Miller joined the university, he held several supervisory roles for Quaker Oats Co. Initially, Miller was an Oats Milling Operations Supervisor at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility and then transferred to the Manhattan, Kansas, facility as the Operations Resource Supervisor. Miller has also held key positions at other leading companies in the industry, including Cargill.