Member Spotlight: Meet Elaine Susan Krul

What’s a typical day like for you as a consultant?

If I am working on a project under contract, I break it down into parts and set goals each day for completing different sections. I also have several pet scientific research areas I keep up with, with plans on writing articles on topics that have been unaddressed.

My favorite part of my job is…

With the ongoing pandemic, I feel blessed to be able to continue working from home. I enjoy being able to set my own schedule, keep up with and continue to contribute to the areas of science that interest me most, and have fewer but more productive meetings that help move my projects forward.

Flash back to when you were 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grew up?

My father was a civil engineer and loved science. He always was trying to figure out how things worked in nature and shared that excitement with me. From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a scientist.

Why did you decide to do the work you are doing now?

I chose biochemistry as a major in college because I felt it would provide a solid base for any field. While pursuing my career in academia (focusing on the genetics of lipid metabolism) and then in the pharmaceutical industry, I observed that diets significantly impacted outcomes and were often ignored in preclinical and clinical study design. So when I had the chance to pursue nutrition research in the food industry, I felt I had found my research home.

Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of? Why?

I authored a review published in JAOCS in 2019 on nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors that summarized the research and the current controversies surrounding how to calculate those factors. It was among the top 10% most-downloaded papers in JAOCS in 2018–2019.

What event, person, or life experience has had the most influence on the direction of your life?

My dad with his hands-on science activities; my best childhood friend who got me interested in plant-based nutrition, holistic medicine, and meditation (way before it was trendy); and my late husband, who always encouraged and supported me in all my career endeavors.

How do you relax after a hard day of work?

Kettlebell and yoga—by Zoom, now; playing piano; volunteering at a cancer-patient residence; meditation; and cooking recipes I’ve modified to be more nutritious or allergen-free.

What is the most impressive thing you know how to do?

I like to make greeting cards for family and friends with personalized poems. I used to make them all by hand but now use software.

What skill would you like to master?

I would like to continue to improve my piano playing skills and learn improvisation.

What are some small things that make your day better?

My miniature Schnauzer and my two adult children.