Nell I. Mondy

Nell I. Mondy (October 27, 1921 – August 25, 2005) was an American biochemist known for her expertise regarding the potato. She spent the majority of her profession at Cornell University where in 1953 she earned a PhD in biochemistry and subsequently served as faculty there for nearly fifty years. She also worked as a consultant with R.T. French company and the Environmental Protection Agency. In 1997, she received the first Elizabeth Fleming Stier Award.

Mondy published widely on topics such as the chemical and nutritional content of potatoes and how they are affected by soil amendments in soil and packaging. She helped to set up the first International Food Congress in 1960 and worked internationally in countries including Indonesia, Mauritius, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Her father died of tuberculosis in 1924 when Nell was not yet 3 years old. After his death her mother took up work as a journalist. In 1953, she received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Cornell University in New York State. She championed changes to the support victims receive in terms of restitution, navigating bureaucracy, emotional support, and protection.

Professional accomplishments Mondy left a large body of writing and research behind her. Her work can be found in numerous publications describing a wide range of topics surrounding potatoes such as how the chemical content of potatoes is affected by amendments in soil or in how they are packaged. Her first book was Experimental Food Chemistry, published in 1980.

In 1960, Mondy was instrumental in setting up the first International Food Congress after receiving a NATO Award to go to Scotland and be a part of a seminar on the recent advances in Food Science.

In 2001, she published an autobiography, You Never Fail Until You Stop Trying: The Story of a Pioneer Women Chemist. The book focuses on Dr. Mondy's challenges being a woman in science and her work to improve worldwide food and nutrition, specifically in third world countries.

Awards Elizabeth Fleming Stier Award Honorary Life Member of The Potato Association of America NATO Award In 1985 she was elected to be a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists