Professor Heather Smyth
Professor

Heather Smyth

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32469

Background

Professor Heather Smyth is a flavour chemist and sensory scientist who has been working with premium food and beverage products for more than twenty years. With a background in wine flavour chemistry, her expertise is in understanding consumer enjoyment of foods and beverages in terms of both sensory properties and composition.

Smyth has a special interest in describing and articulating food quality, understanding regional flavours of locally grown Australian produce, and modelling food flavour and textural properties using instrumental measurements. Smyth also specialises in researching how human physiology and psychology can impact sensory perception and therefore food choice.

Availability

Professor Heather Smyth is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Analytical chemistry Chemical Sciences Engineering Food chemistry and food sensory science Food sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Adelaide
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide

Research interests

  • Distinctive Australian Foods and Beverages

    Australia has the opportunity to be the supplier of premium foods into global markets but needs to go beyond traditional ‘clean and green’ positioning to secure sustainable high value market positions. Across all commodity sectors, there is the opportunity to further develop the Australian advantage through identifying and marketing distinctively Australian food products to receptive target markets, such that they are ‘reassuringly expensive’. Defining unique 'regional flavors' of Australian products is one approach to develop a point-of-difference in premium products. Another obvious way to add distinctiveness is to use ingredients which are sourced from uniquely Australian native plants. Projects that address these challenges and opportunities may broadly include (1) investigations that identify, validate, communicate and generate consumer value from the distinctive characteristics of foods and ingredients sourced from Australian agriculture, and (2) exploring how to develop food and ingredient industries based on the unique composition and characteristics of Australian native plants.

  • Next Generation Foods and Beverages

    Future foods will contain natural health-promoting components, such as plant phytonutrients (which act as antioxidants) with reduced fat, sugar and salt levels. The challenge for food companies is to develop healthier foods for the future without compromising on sensory properties and consumer enjoyment. In many cases, it is currently not possible to dramatically reduce the level of fat, sugar and salt because of a loss in mouthfeel and flavour as well as structural integrity. Increasingly, food companies are looking for alternative means in which to structure food that allows it to have superior nutritional value whilst having favourable sensory properties. Projects in this area may include (1) exploring new ingredients and processes to identify novel ways of delivering desirable sensory properties in processed and minimally processed products, and (2) investigating human sensory perception, physiology and mouth behaviour, to understand how to deliver equivalent sensory experiences in modified products.

  • Understanding Human Sensory Perception

    Enjoyment of food is highly dependent on an individual's ability to sense the properties and components of food. The human sensory system is highly complex, with different sense organs simultaneously relaying nerve signals that activate multiple parts of the brain. Sensory perception is further complicated by our behaviour (such as the way we chew) and our physiology (such as our saliva), not to mention psychological, biological and environmental factors. Food companies are keen to understand the interaction between the food product and the consumer such that they can design nutritious foods that meet and exceed customer requirements and expectations. Research in this area may include (1) understanding the interaction of food and beverages with physiological factors such as human saliva, and (2) exploring the natural variation in an ethnically diverse population in terms of sensory acuity, physiology, mouth behaviour and consequently perception.

Research impacts

Professor Smyth works closely with the food and beverage industries to discover what sensory qualities consumers want and supports the design, production and marketing of superior products with increased consumer value. Current projects involve specialty coffee, beer, wine, native plant foods, cocoa, premium beef and seafood, tropical fruits, cereals, dairy products and some processed products and snack foods.

Smyth is also heavily involved in training industry and researchers in the application of flavour chemistry, sensory and consumer evaluation methods.

Search Professor Heather Smyth’s works on UQ eSpace

227 works between 2003 and 2025
All (227) Journal Article (102) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (119) Book (1) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 227 works

2025

Journal Article

The impact of measuring conditions on the relationship between sensory and measured juiciness in plant-based burgers

Rudge, Raisa, Briner, Felix, Nicholson, Reed A., Cottrell, Colleen, Collins, Janet, Hoffman, Louwrens C., Stokes, Jason R. and Smyth, Heather E. (2025). The impact of measuring conditions on the relationship between sensory and measured juiciness in plant-based burgers. Food Hydrocolloids, 162 110849, 110849-162. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110849

The impact of measuring conditions on the relationship between sensory and measured juiciness in plant-based burgers

2025

Journal Article

Fragrances of Cage Bicyclic Benzene Bioisosteres

O'Donohue, Grace R. M., Chow, Sharon, Houston, Sevan D., Nguyen, Thoa T. L., Paul Savage, G., Smyth, Heather E. and Williams, Craig M. (2025). Fragrances of Cage Bicyclic Benzene Bioisosteres. Chemistry – A European Journal, e202404716. doi: 10.1002/chem.202404716

Fragrances of Cage Bicyclic Benzene Bioisosteres

2025

Journal Article

Relationship between Key Aroma Compounds and Sensory Attributes of Australian Grown Commercial Pineapple Cultivars

George, Jenson, Pramanik, Ishita, Sanewski, Garth, Nguyen, Thoa, Pun, Sharon, Edwards, David, Currie, Margaret, Møller, Simoné, Hardner, Craig, Lyons, Philippa and Smyth, Heather Eunice (2025). Relationship between Key Aroma Compounds and Sensory Attributes of Australian Grown Commercial Pineapple Cultivars. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 73 (10), 5839-5849. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c12482

Relationship between Key Aroma Compounds and Sensory Attributes of Australian Grown Commercial Pineapple Cultivars

2025

Journal Article

Nutritional, functional and rheological properties of bunya nut flour as a versatile gluten-free option

Moura Nadolny, Jaqueline, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Shewan, Heather M., Smyth, Heather E., Best, Odette and Stokes, Jason R. (2025). Nutritional, functional and rheological properties of bunya nut flour as a versatile gluten-free option. Food Research International, 202 115627, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115627

Nutritional, functional and rheological properties of bunya nut flour as a versatile gluten-free option

2025

Journal Article

A hedonic sensory trial: exploring the relationship between sweet‐liker status, demographics, and health measures on acceptability in a beverage system

Cartwright, Jessica, Smyth, Heather E., Netzel, Michael E., Sultanbawa, Yasmina F. and Wright, Olivia R. L. (2025). A hedonic sensory trial: exploring the relationship between sweet‐liker status, demographics, and health measures on acceptability in a beverage system. Journal of Sensory Studies, 40 (1) e70008, 1-15. doi: 10.1111/joss.70008

A hedonic sensory trial: exploring the relationship between sweet‐liker status, demographics, and health measures on acceptability in a beverage system

2024

Journal Article

Plant‐based mince texture: A review of the sensory literature with view to informing new product development

Konrad, Theresia, Ha, Minh, Ronquest‐Ross, Lisa, Smyth, Heather E. and Moura Nadolny, Jaqueline (2024). Plant‐based mince texture: A review of the sensory literature with view to informing new product development. Journal of Food Science, 89 (12), 8197-8214. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.17517

Plant‐based mince texture: A review of the sensory literature with view to informing new product development

2024

Journal Article

Food type, human physiology, and psychology factors affect food intake, perceived satiation, and satiety differently – an exploratory study

Ni, Dongdong, Smyth, Heather E., Mayr, Hannah, Gunness, Purnima, Cozzolino, Daniel and Gidley, Michael J. (2024). Food type, human physiology, and psychology factors affect food intake, perceived satiation, and satiety differently – an exploratory study. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 59 (11), 8461-8472. doi: 10.1111/ijfs.17131

Food type, human physiology, and psychology factors affect food intake, perceived satiation, and satiety differently – an exploratory study

2024

Journal Article

Stable isotope dilution assay and HS-SPME-GCMS quantification of key aroma volatiles of Australian pineapple (Ananas comosus) cultivars

George, Jenson, Nguyen, Thoa T.L., Sanewski, Garth, Hardner, Craig and Smyth, Heather Eunice (2024). Stable isotope dilution assay and HS-SPME-GCMS quantification of key aroma volatiles of Australian pineapple (Ananas comosus) cultivars. Food Chemistry, 455 139956. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139956

Stable isotope dilution assay and HS-SPME-GCMS quantification of key aroma volatiles of Australian pineapple (Ananas comosus) cultivars

2024

Journal Article

Meat vs. meat analogues: a sensory comparison of commercial burgers

Smyth, Heather and Forster, Rebecca (2024). Meat vs. meat analogues: a sensory comparison of commercial burgers. Food Australia, 74 (4), 28-30.

Meat vs. meat analogues: a sensory comparison of commercial burgers

2024

Conference Publication

Key Aroma Compounds as Predictors of Pineapple Sensory Quality

Jenson, George, Nguyen, Thoa, Hardner, Craig, Sanewski, Garth and Smyth, Heather (2024). Key Aroma Compounds as Predictors of Pineapple Sensory Quality. 17th Weurman Flavour Research Symposium, Wageningen, Netherlands, 24-27 September 2024.

Key Aroma Compounds as Predictors of Pineapple Sensory Quality

2024

Conference Publication

Understanding the sensory gap between no and low alcohol (NOLO) wine and traditional wine

Li, Huanhuan, Bekker, Marlize, Rudge, Raisa, Marcellin, Esteban and Smyth, Heather (2024). Understanding the sensory gap between no and low alcohol (NOLO) wine and traditional wine. Crush 2024, Adelaide, SA Australia, 25 - 26 September 2024.

Understanding the sensory gap between no and low alcohol (NOLO) wine and traditional wine

2024

Conference Publication

Consumer responses to Australian native food products: expectations, assumptions, and realities

Wijngaarden, Clare, Adhikari, Kamalesh and Smyth, Heather Eunice (2024). Consumer responses to Australian native food products: expectations, assumptions, and realities. 22nd World Congress of Food Science and Technology, Rimini, Italy, 8-12 September 2024.

Consumer responses to Australian native food products: expectations, assumptions, and realities

2024

Conference Publication

Understanding the sensory gap between no and low alcohol (NOLO) wine and traditional wine

Li, Huanhuan, Bekker, Marlize, Rudge, Raisa, Marcellin, Esteban and Smyth, Heather (2024). Understanding the sensory gap between no and low alcohol (NOLO) wine and traditional wine. QSA NextGen Ag Symposium 2024, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 6 September 2024.

Understanding the sensory gap between no and low alcohol (NOLO) wine and traditional wine

2024

Conference Publication

Novel approaches for tuning physical and sensory properties of plant-based fish fingers

Wu, Yifei, Rudge, Raisa and Smyth, Heather (2024). Novel approaches for tuning physical and sensory properties of plant-based fish fingers. AIFST24 Convention, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 6 -7 August 2024.

Novel approaches for tuning physical and sensory properties of plant-based fish fingers

2024

Journal Article

Coffee brewing sonoreactor for reducing the time of cold brew from several hours to minutes while maintaining sensory attributes

Chiu, Shih-Hao, Naliyadhara, Nikunj, Bucknall, Martin P., Thomas, Donald S., Smyth, Heather E., Nadolny, Jaqueline M., Kalantar-Zadeh, Kourosh and Trujillo, Francisco J. (2024). Coffee brewing sonoreactor for reducing the time of cold brew from several hours to minutes while maintaining sensory attributes. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 106 106885, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.106885

Coffee brewing sonoreactor for reducing the time of cold brew from several hours to minutes while maintaining sensory attributes

2024

Journal Article

Comparing the sensory properties of commercially available animal and plant‐based burgers

Forster, Rebecca A., Hassall, Emma, Hoffman, Louwrens C., Baier, Stefan K., Stokes, Jason R. and Smyth, Heather E. (2024). Comparing the sensory properties of commercially available animal and plant‐based burgers. Journal of Texture Studies, 55 (3) e12838, e12838. doi: 10.1111/jtxs.12838

Comparing the sensory properties of commercially available animal and plant‐based burgers

2024

Conference Publication

Future meat replacers obtained using ancient fermentation techniques

Rudge, Raisa, Husson, Adele, Stokes, Jason and Smyth, Heather (2024). Future meat replacers obtained using ancient fermentation techniques. Future meat replacers obtained using ancient fermentation techniques, Thessaloniki, Greece, 14-18 April 2024.

Future meat replacers obtained using ancient fermentation techniques

2024

Journal Article

Astringency and its sub-qualities: a review of astringency mechanisms and methods for measuring saliva lubrication

Wang, Shaoyang, Smyth, Heather E., Olarte Mantilla, Sandra M., Stokes, Jason R. and Smith, Paul A. (2024). Astringency and its sub-qualities: a review of astringency mechanisms and methods for measuring saliva lubrication. Chemical Senses, 49 bjae016. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjae016

Astringency and its sub-qualities: a review of astringency mechanisms and methods for measuring saliva lubrication

2024

Journal Article

Exploring the potential of Davidson's plum (Davidsonia pruriens): A promising indigenous edible fruit as biopreservative in raw processed meat products

Beya, Michel M., Netzel, Michael E., Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Smyth, Heather E. and Hoffman, Louwrens C. (2024). Exploring the potential of Davidson's plum (Davidsonia pruriens): A promising indigenous edible fruit as biopreservative in raw processed meat products. LWT- Food Science and Technology, 194 115827, 115827. doi: 10.1016/j.lwt.2024.115827

Exploring the potential of Davidson's plum (Davidsonia pruriens): A promising indigenous edible fruit as biopreservative in raw processed meat products

2024

Conference Publication

Effects of product experience and information on consumer attitudes and purchase motivation for Australian wattleseed

Wijngaarden, Clare, Jacob, Sera Susan, Adhikari, Kamalesh and Smyth, Heather Eunice (2024). Effects of product experience and information on consumer attitudes and purchase motivation for Australian wattleseed. NZOZ Sensory and Consumer Science Symposium, Sydney, NSW Australia, 7-9 February 2024.

Effects of product experience and information on consumer attitudes and purchase motivation for Australian wattleseed

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2029
    ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    National Passionfruit Breeding and Evaluation Program
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Genetics of Fruit Sensory Preferences (HIA project administered by DAF)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Plant based foods: Towards sustainable and acceptable meat analogues
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Genetics of Fruit Sensory Preferences
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Reduced enteric emissions of Grainfed Wagyu Cattle through feeding of red Asparagopsis for 300 days - Sensory Evaluation (AACo administered MLA grant)
    A. A. COMPANY PTY. LTD.
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Measurement of pH in high intramuscular fat samples and existing technology validation
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Emulsion gels and sensory perception
    Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Plant-based meat analogues
    Motif FoodWorks
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    National Papaya Breeding and Evaluation Program (Hort Innovation Grant administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    ARC Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Improving the efficiency of Kakadu Plum value chains to grow a robust and sustainable industry
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    A situational analysis for developing a Rice industry in Northern Australia
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Advanced Nanoparticle, Colloid and Microparticle Characterisation and Precision Engineering Nanosystems Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Dietary manipulation of pork fatty acid profiles to develop an Australian pork flavour signature relevant to Chinese consumers
    Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Food structure design
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Value added bakery products using native plants as functional ingredients
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    Naturally Nutritious
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Australian native foods as natural additives to improve quality and shelf life of frozen meals
    Research Connections
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Understanding Coffee Quality
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    Agents of change: Transforming the food industry for Australia, Asia and beyond
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Chemical methods to underpin an understanding of coffee quality
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Use of plant derived compounds to condition piglet intake at weaning and reduce post-weaning use of therapeutics
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Tactical Research Fund: Developing a dynamic regional brand - focus on flavour
    Fisheries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Prevention of muddy taints in farmed barramundi
    Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Heather Smyth is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Heather Smyth directly for media enquiries about:

  • aroma
  • beef
  • coffee
  • consumer research
  • flavour
  • food quality
  • human senses
  • premium food
  • sensory science
  • smell
  • taste
  • taste panels
  • wine

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