Landec Corporation Announces Hiring of Chief Scientific Officer
MENLO PARK, Calif., Apr 21, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Landec Corporation (Nasdaq:LNDC), a materials science company that develops and markets patented polymer products for food, agricultural and licensed partner applications, today announced the appointment of Damian A. Hajduk to the newly created position of Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Hajduk joins Landec Corporation from Symyx Technologies where he has been the Vice President of Performance Materials and Formulations. Dr. Hajduk reports to Dr. David Taft, Chief Operating Officer, and will work closely with the entire management team in the development and execution of technology programs for the Company. Dr. Hajduk's team at Landec includes corporate R&D under the continuing leadership of Steve Bitler, Vice President of Corporate Technology.
"We are pleased to welcome Damian to the management team where he will have overall responsibility for the development and execution of technology programs," said Taft. "Damian brings to Landec, at an opportune time in Landec's strategic development, breadth and depth in materials science, particularly in polymer and biopolymer science. Since 1992, during and after earning his Ph.D. in Physics, Damian has been involved in research, development and commercialization of a wide variety of polymer applications and holds over 40 patents. His technology achievements and management experience add considerable strength to our ability to build new technology platforms and applications for Landec."
Dr. Hajduk's responsibilities include assessment of Landec's technologies, broadening applications for the patented Intelimer® polymers and development of new polymer technology platforms, leading to successful commercial applications.
"We are excited about Damian joining Landec," said Gary Steele, Chairman and CEO of Landec Corporation. "He brings scientific and management experience that complements and expands the strong technology team at Landec. I look forward to working with Damian in his position of Chief Scientific Officer as we continue to leverage our polymer science into new applications."
From 1997 to 2010, Dr. Hajduk held a variety of scientific and leadership positions at Symyx Technologies. In his most recent role, as Vice President of Performance Materials and Formulations, he identified new strategic opportunities that drove rapid growth in research contracts in a number of life science fields, including pharmaceutical materials science and home and personal care. He also played a key role in business development activities and in management of collaborations with external business partners. Prior to Symyx, Dr. Hajduk conducted research into the phase behavior of block copolymer melts and solutions, multicomponent polymer blends and biological phospholipids at the University of Minnesota and Princeton University. Dr. Hajduk received his B.A. in Physics from Dartmouth College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Physics from Princeton University.
About Landec Corporation
Landec is a materials science company, leveraging its strong capability in polymer science and bio-application development to commercialize new products within a variety of life science fields, including food, agricultural, personal care and drug delivery applications. With its Intelimer polymers, Landec is able to customize its polymers for each application through the independent manipulation of their unique controlled release, temperature activation and biocompatibility properties. Landec's subsidiary, Apio Inc., has leveraged Landec's BreatheWay® membrane technology to become the market leader in U.S. fresh-cut specialty packaged vegetables. Landec Ag offers a full solution of seed coatings and enhancements that work with the latest genetic technologies to drive continuous improvements in crop yield. Through its long-standing partnerships, Landec has commercialized dozens of personal care and adhesive products. For more information about the Company visit Landec's website at www.landec.com.
SOURCE: Landec Corporation
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