Jedi Brown serves as a Pilot Plant Senior Specialist for the Food Science Pilot Processing Plant and the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Since joining the team in 2017, Jedi has played a key role in the growth and development of the pilot plant programs, helping transform them into nationally recognized facilities for food innovation, research, and workforce development.
With more than 20 years of experience training industry managers and production leaders in food safety, manufacturing, and processing operations, Jedi brings a hands-on, solutions-driven approach to every project. He earned his associate degree in Business Administration from Parkland College and bachelors in Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University.
Jedi oversees pilot plant operations, production systems, and technical support while working closely with faculty, researchers, students, and industry partners. He is widely recognized for his expertise in food processing scale-up, spray drying, product development, and pilot plant operations. His work supports both university research initiatives and industry collaborations ranging from startups to multinational CPG companies.
In addition to his operational leadership, Jedi developed and manages the FASTER Internship Program (Food & Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Engineering, and Research Internship), which provides students with immersive, hands-on industry experience in food production, research, and manufacturing environments. Under his leadership, the program has grown to support more than 40 students annually and has become a highly valued workforce development pipeline.