Overview
Background
Jiale Zhang is a researcher in food science and nutrition at The University of Queensland, with expertise in functional foods, food processing, and bioactive compounds. My current work focuses on how food components change during processing, digestion, and fermentation, and how these changes influence nutrition, gut health, and product quality. I am also working on the product development.
My research brings together food chemistry, metabolomics, and microbiome science to better understand the relationship between food composition and health outcomes. I have worked extensively on Australian native fruits with a particular interest in developing value-added food products and sustainable food materials.
My main areas of expertise include:
- Functional foods and bioactive compounds
- Digestion and colonic fermentation models
- Gut microbiota and food–microbe interactions
- Untargeted and targeted metabolomics
Availability
- Dr Jiale Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Environmental Science, Edith Cowan University
- Masters (Coursework) of Biotechnology, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Jiale Zhang’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria-Fermented Beverages from Bambara Groundnut and Cowpea Sprouts Modulate Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids
Cele, Nobahle Pretty, Kewuyemi, Yusuf Olamide, Adiamo, Oladipupo, Bobasa, Eshetu Mulisa, Zhang, Jiale, Seididamyeh, Maral, Sultanbawa, Yasmina F. and Sivakumar, Dharini (2026). Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria-Fermented Beverages from Bambara Groundnut and Cowpea Sprouts Modulate Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids. Foods, 15 (7) 1141, 1141-7. doi: 10.3390/foods15071141
2026
Other Outputs
Quality, phytochemicals, bioactivities, and gut microbiome modulation of different Geebung (Persoonia spp.)
Zhang, Jiale (2026). Quality, phytochemicals, bioactivities, and gut microbiome modulation of different Geebung (Persoonia spp.). PhD Thesis, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/f49b5e2
2026
Conference Publication
Metabolic fate of Australian native Persoonia falcata fruit metabolites during in vitro digestion using an untargeted metabolomics analysis approach
Zhang, Jiale, Netzel, Michael, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Pengelly, Andrew, Sivakumar, Dharini and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2026). Metabolic fate of Australian native Persoonia falcata fruit metabolites during in vitro digestion using an untargeted metabolomics analysis approach. QMSS2026, St Lucia, QLD Australia, 28-29 January 2026.
2025
Conference Publication
Physicochemical, phytochemical, nutritional, and bioactive properties of Australian native Persoonia spp.
Zhang, Jiale, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Netzel, Michael E., Pengelly, Andrew, Sivakumar, Dharini and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2025). Physicochemical, phytochemical, nutritional, and bioactive properties of Australian native Persoonia spp.. Global Food Systems Leadership Program, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 4 November 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Exploring the functional food potential of edible persoonia spp.: nutritional composition, bioactive properties and phenolic metabolomics
Zhang, Jiale, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Netzel, Michael E., Pengelly, Andrew, Sivakumar, Dharini and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2025). Exploring the functional food potential of edible persoonia spp.: nutritional composition, bioactive properties and phenolic metabolomics. Food Chemistry, 495 (1) 146355, 146355. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.146355
2024
Conference Publication
Understanding of bioactivities of Australian Persoonia spp.
Zhang, Jiale, Sivakumaran, Dharini, Netzel, Michael E., Pengelly, Andrew and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2024). Understanding of bioactivities of Australian Persoonia spp.. 22nd World Congress of Food Science and Technology, Rimini, Italy, 8-12 September 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Analysis of polyphenolic composition of Persoonia linearis fruits using untargeted metabolomics
Zhang, Jiale, Sivakumaran, Dharini, Netzel, Michael E., Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Pengelly, Andrew and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2024). Analysis of polyphenolic composition of Persoonia linearis fruits using untargeted metabolomics. 8th International Symposium on Phytochemicals in Medicine and Food (8-ISPMF), Shenyang, China, 2-6 August 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Minerals and trace elements in broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia stradbrokensis), an underutilised native Australian fruit
Zhang, J., Sivakumar, D., Netzel, M.E. and Sultanbawa, Y. (2024). Minerals and trace elements in broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia stradbrokensis), an underutilised native Australian fruit. 57th Nutrition Society of New Zealand and 47th Nutrition Society of Australia Joint Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, 28 November – 1 December 2023. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/s0029665124000740
2024
Conference Publication
Bioactive properties of Australian native Persoonia spp.
Zhang, Jiale, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Netzel, Michael E., Pengelly, Andrew, Sivakumaran, Dharini and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2024). Bioactive properties of Australian native Persoonia spp.. Joint virtual workshop between the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences (CNAFS), Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Australia and the Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa, Promoting Health and Food Security with Indigenous Crops, Online, 5-6 March 2024.
2023
Conference Publication
Minerals and trace elements in broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia stradbrokensis), an underutilised native Australian fruit
Zhang, Jiale, Sivakumaran, Dharini, Netzel, Michael E. and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2023). Minerals and trace elements in broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia stradbrokensis), an underutilised native Australian fruit. Nutrition and Wellbeing in Oceania, Joint Conference of the Nutrition Societies of New Zealand and Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, 28 November-1 December 2023.
2023
Journal Article
A review of phytochemicals and bioactive properties in the Proteaceae family: a promising source of functional food
Zhang, Jiale, Netzel, Michael E., Pengelly, Andrew, Sivakumar, Dharini and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2023). A review of phytochemicals and bioactive properties in the Proteaceae family: a promising source of functional food. Antioxidants, 12 (11) 1952, 1-32. doi: 10.3390/antiox12111952
2023
Conference Publication
Bioactive properties of wild-harvested Persoonia spp. at different maturity stages
Zhang, Jiale, Thi Phan, Anh Dao, Netzel, Michael, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Pengelly, Andrew (2023). Bioactive properties of wild-harvested Persoonia spp. at different maturity stages. Key Technologies in the Bioeconomy: A Global Bioeconomy Alliance Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27-29 September 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2022
Conference Publication
Maturity effect on selected quality parameters in wild-harvested Terminalia ferdinandiana (Exell) fruit
Phan, A., Zhang, J., Seididamyeh, M., Srivarathan, S., Netzel, M., Sivakumar, D. and Sultanbawa, Y. (2022). Maturity effect on selected quality parameters in wild-harvested Terminalia ferdinandiana (Exell) fruit. TROPAG, International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 31 October-2 November 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Hydrolysable tannins, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant property of wild-harvested Terminalia ferdinandiana (exell) fruit at different maturity stages
Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Zhang, Jiale, Seididamyeh, Maral, Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Netzel, Michael E., Sivakumar, Dharini and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2022). Hydrolysable tannins, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant property of wild-harvested Terminalia ferdinandiana (exell) fruit at different maturity stages. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9 961679, 961679. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.961679
2021
Journal Article
Proximate composition, functional and antimicrobial properties of wild harvest Terminalia carpentariae fruit
Zhang, Jiale, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Akter, Saleha, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). Proximate composition, functional and antimicrobial properties of wild harvest Terminalia carpentariae fruit. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 16 (1), 582-589. doi: 10.1007/s11694-021-01182-4
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jiale Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
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