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Biography Paula Varela-Tomasco

My research has focused on the exploration of new methods for understanding sensory and consumer perception, in particular sensory descriptive techniques with consumers and the influence of non-sensory parameters in food choice.
I have published more than 80 papers, various book chapters and several contributions to international symposiums. I co-edited the book “Novel Techniques in Sensory Characterization and Consumer Profiling”. I have taught university and professional courses, and supervised master and PhD theses in Sensory and Consumer Science. I am a member of the Editorial Board of Food Research International, Food Quality and Preference, and Current Opinion in Food Science. I am also part-time associate professor in Sensory and Consumer Science at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).Education and past professional experience
Food Engineer from Universidad de la República (Uruguay, 2002). PhD in Food Science and Technology from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Spain, 2007). I have wide experience in academic and industrial research, and collaborations with research groups from Europe, Asia and South America. My past positions include lecturer in the Universidad de la Republica in Uruguay, pre- and post-doctoral researcher in the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology in Valencia, Spain and Senior Sensory and Consumer Scientist in Kraft Foods UK R&D.

Paula Varela-Tomasco has 57 publications at Nofima:

How children approach a CATA test influences the outcome. Insights on ticking styles from two case studies with 6-9-year old children.

Galler, Martina; Næs, Tormod; Almli, Valerie Lengard; Varela, Paula

2020

Academic article

Can children use temporal sensory methods to describe visual and food stimuli?

Velázquez, Ana Laura; Vidal, Leticia; Varela, Paula ; Ares, Gastón

2020

Academic article

Cross-modal interactions as a strategy for sugar reduction in products targeted at children: Case study with vanilla milk desserts

Velázquez, Ana; Vidal, Leticia; Varela, Paula ; Ares, Gastón

2020

Academic article

Exploring the common and unique variability in TDS and TCATA data – A comparison using canonical correlation and orthogonalization.

Berget, Ingunn; Castura, John; Ares, Gaston; Næs, Tormod; Varela, Paula

2020

Academic article

Texture to prevent overeating

Varela, Paula ; Næs, Tormod

2019

Popular scientific article

Potential impact of oat ingredient type on oral fragmentation of biscuits and oro-digestibility of starch - An in vitro approach

Gamero, Amparo; Nguyen, Quoc Cuong; Varela, Paula ; Fiszman, Susana; Tarrega, Amparo; Rizo, Arantxa

2019

Academic article

Unintended Consonances: Methods to Understand Robot Motor Sound Perception

Moore, Dylan; Dahl, Tobias; Varela, Paula ; Ju, Wendy; Næs, Tormod; Berget, Ingunn

2019

Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

The impact of extrusion parameters on physicochemical, nutritional and sensorial properties of expanded snacks from pea and oat fractions

do Carmo, Cátia Saldanha; Varela, Paula ; Poudroux, Claire; Dessev, Tzvetelin; Myhrer, Kristine S.; Rieder, Anne; Zobel, Hanne; Sahlstrøm, Stefan; Knutsen, Svein Halvor

2019

Academic article

Connecting flavors in social media: A cross cultural study with beer pairing

Arellano-Covarrubias, Araceli; Gómez-Corona, Carlos; Varela, Paula ; Escalona-Buendía, Héctor B.

2019

Academic literature review

Ny undersøkelse: Nordmenn var skeptiske til kjøttkopier

Hegermark, Wenche Aale; Gonera, Antje; Varela, Paula

2019

Popular scientific article

Segmentation in projective mapping

Berget, Ingunn; Varela, Paula ; Næs, Tormod

2019

Academic article

Consumer’s categorization of food ingredients: Do consumers perceive them as ‘clean label’ producers expect? An exploration with projective mapping

Aschemann-Witzel, Jessica; Varela, Paula ; Peschel, A.O.

2019

Academic article

Portion size selection as related to product and consumer characteristics studied by PLS path modelling

Nguyen, Quoc Cuong; Næs, Tormod; Almøy, Trygve; Varela, Paula

2018

Academic article

Shifting to plant-based

Varela, Paula ; Gonera, Antje

2018

Popular scientific article

Hvordan skal vi få barn til å like sunn mat?

Varela, Paula ; Berget, Ingunn; Almli, Valerie Lengard

2018

Popular scientific article

Individual differences in sensory and consumer science. Experimentation, analysis and interpretation

Næs, Tormod; Varela, Paula ; Berget, Ingunn

2018

Academic monograph

White wines aroma recovery and enrichment: Sensory-led aroma selection and consumer perception

Lezaeta, Alvaro; Bordeu, Edmundo; Agosin, Eduardo; Perez-Correa, J. Ricardo; Varela, Paula

2018

Academic article

Consumer-based methodologies for sensory characterization

Ares, Gastón; Varela, Paula

2018

Chapter

Recent advances in consumer research

Varela, Paula ; Ares, Gastón

2018

Chapter

Methods in Consumer Research, Alternative Approaches and Special Applications

Ares, Gastón; Varela, Paula

2018

Academic anthology/Conference proceedings

When the choice of the temporal method does make a difference: TCATA, TDS and TDS by modality for characterizing semi-solid foods

Nguyen, Quoc Cuong; Næs, Tormod; Varela, Paula

2018

Academic article

What is dominance? An exploration of the concept in TDS tests with trained assessors and consumers

Varela, Paula ; Antúnez, Lucía; Carlehög, Mats; Alcaire, Florencia; Castura, J.C; Berget, Ingunn; Giménez, Ana; Næs, Tormod; Ares, Gastón

2018

Academic article

Methods in Consumer Research, New Approaches to Classic Methods

Ares, Gastón; Varela, Paula

2018

Academic anthology/Conference proceedings

Understanding the role of dynamic texture perception in consumers' expectations of satiety and satiation. A case study on barley bread

Nguyen, Quoc Cuong; Wahlgren, Marte Berg; Almli, Valerie Lengard; Varela, Paula

2017

Academic article

Projective mapping based on choice or preference: An affective approach to projective mapping

Varela, Paula ; Berget, Ingunn; Hersleth, Margrethe; Carlehög, Mats; Asioli, Daniele; Næs, Tormod

2017

Academic article

Exploration of consumer perception of Sauvignon Blanc wines with enhanced aroma properties using two different descriptive methods

Lezaeta, A.; Bordeu, Edmundo; Næs, Tormod; Varela, Paula

2017

Academic article

Making sense of the “clean label” trends: A review of consumer food choice behavior and discussion of industry implications

Asioli, Daniele; Aschemann-Witzel, Jessica; Caputo, Vincenzina; Vicchio, Riccardo; Annunziata, Azzurra; Næs, Tormod; Varela, Paula

2017

Academic article

Trained vs. consumer panels for analytical testing: Fueling a long lasting debate in the field

Ares, Gastón; Varela, Paula

2017

Academic article

Influence of consumers' cognitive style on results from projective mapping

Varela, Paula ; Antúnez, Lucía; Berget, Ingunn; Oliveira, Denize; Christensen, Kasper; Vidal, Leticia; Næs, Tormod; Ares, Gastón

2017

Academic article

Projective mapping with food stickers: A good tool for better understanding perception of fish in children of different ages

Daltoe, Marina Mitterer; Breda, Leandra Schuastz; Belusso, A.C.; Nogueira, Barbara Arruda; Rodrigues, Deyse Pegorini; Fiszman, Susana; Varela, Paula

2017

Academic article

Estimating and interpreting more than two consensus components in projective mapping: INDSCAL vs. multiple factor analysis (MFA)

Næs, Tormod; Berget, Ingunn; Liland, Kristian Hovde; Ares, Gaston; Varela, Paula

2017

Academic article

A discussion of recent methodologies for combining sensory and extrinsic product properties in consumer studies

Asioli, Daniele; Varela, Paula ; Hersleth, Margrethe; Almli, Valerie Lengard; Olsen, Nina Veflen; Næs, Tormod

2017

Academic article

Sensory characterisation based on consumers’ perception – new Methods for the new times.

Varela, Paula

2016

Article in business/trade/industry journal

Can consumer segmentation in projective mapping contribute to a better understanding of consumer perception?

Vidal, Leticia; Antúnes, Lucía; Giménez, Ana; Varela, Paula ; Deliza, Rosires; Ares, Gaston

2016

Academic article

Influence of Poles on Results from Reference-Based Sensory Characterization Methodologies: Case Study with Polarized Projective Mapping Consumers

de Saldamando, Luis; Antúnez, Lucía; Giménez, Ana; Varela, Paula; Ares, Gastón

2015

Academic article

Contributor factors for the occurrence of salmonellosis during preparation, storage and consumption of homemade mayonnaise salad

de Oliveira Elias, Susana; Tomasco, Paula Varela; Ortiz Alvarenga, Veronica; de Souza Sant'Ana, Anderson; Tondo, Eduardo Cesar

2015

Academic article

Consumer perception of carriers of a satiating compound: Influence of front-of-package images and weight loss-related information

Fiszman, Susana; Carrillo, Elizabeth; Varela, Paula

2015

Academic article

Editorial overview: Sensory science and consumer perception

Varela, Paula

2015

Editorial

Special issue title: "Food, emotions and food choice"

Varela, Paula; Ares, Gastón

2015

Editorial

Methods for a deeper understanding of the sensory perception of fruit fillings

Agudelo, Alejandra; Tomasco, Paula Alejandra Varela; Fiszman, S.

2015

Academic article

Relating dynamic perception of reformulated cheese pies to consumers' expectations of satiating ability

Marcano, J; Tomasco, Paula Alejandra Varela; Cunha, L.M.; Fiszman, S.

2015

Academic article

Fruit fillings development: A multiparametric approach

Agudelo, Alejandra; Tomasco, Paula Alejandra Varela; Fiszman, Susana

2015

Academic article

Pole selection in Polarized Sensory Positioning: Insights from the cognitive aspects behind the task

Ares, Gastón; Antúnez, Lucía; Oliveira, Denize; Alcaire, Florencia; Giménez, Ana; Berget, Ingunn; Næs, Tormod; Tomasco, Paula Alejandra Varela

2015

Academic article

Persimmon milkshakes with enhanced functionality: Understanding consumers' perception of the concept and sensory experience of a functional food

Hernández-Carrión, María; Tomasco, Paula Alejandra Varela; Hernando, Isabel; Fiszman Dal Santo, Susana; Quiles, Amparo

2015

Academic article

Relating the effects of protein type and content in increased-protein cheese pies to consumers' perception of satiating capacity

Marcano, Johanna; Tomasco, Paula Alejandra Varela; Fiszman Dal Santo, Susana

2015

Academic article

Evaluation of Data Aggregation in Polarized Sensory Positioning

Antúnez, Lucía; Salvador, Ana; de Saldamando, Luis; Tomasco, Paula Alejandra Varela; Giménez, Ana; Ares, Gastón

2015

Academic article

Structured sorting using pictures as a way to study nutritional and hedonic perception in children

Varela, Paula; Salvador, Ana

2014

Academic article

Comparison of the methodologies and Recommendations

Ares, Gaston; Varela, Paula

2014

Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Dynamic Sensory Descriptive Methodologies: Time–Intensity and Temporal Dominance of Sensations

Silva Cadena, R.; VIDAL, LETICIA; Ares, Gaston; Varela, Paula

2014

Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Introduction to sensory characterization

Varela, Paula; Ares, Gaston

2014

Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Novel techniques in sensory characterization and consumer profiling

Varela, Paula; Ares, Gaston

2014

Academic anthology/Conference proceedings

Attentional capture and importance of package attributes for consumers' perceived similarities and differences among products: A case study with breakfast cereal packages

Varela, Paula; Antúnes, Lucía; Cadena, Rafael Silva; Giménes, Ana; Ares, Gastón

2014

Academic article

Assessment of global and individual reproducibility of projective mapping with consumers

VIDAL, LETICIA; CADENA, RAFAEL SILVA; CORREA, SILVANA; ÁBALOS, ROSA A.; GÓMEZ, BEATRIZ; GIMÉNEZ, ANA; Varela, Paula; Ares, Gaston

2014

Academic article

What is satiating? Consumer perceptions of satiating foods and expected satiety of protein-based meals

Fiszman, S.; Varela, Paula; Diaz, P.; Linares, M.B.; Garrido, M.D.

2014

Academic article

Consumers’ perception of symbols and health claims as health-related label messages. A cross-cultural study

Carrillo, E.; Fiszman, S.; Lähteenmäki, L.; Varela, Paula

2014

Academic article

Hydrocolloids for enhancing satiety: Relating oral digestion to rheology, structure and sensory perception

Morell, P.; Fiszman, S.M.; Varela, Paula; Hernando, I.

2014

Academic article

Consumer perceptions of satiating and meal replacement bars, built up from cues in packaging information, health claims and nutritional claims

Miraballes, Marcelo; Fiszman, Suzana; Gámbaro, Adriana; Varela, Paula

2014

Academic article

Digital Food Quality

1. November 2020 – 31. October 2028

Digital Food Quality (short named DigiFoods) is a centre for research-based innovation (SFI) with the purpose of developing digital solutions for food quality assessment with cutting edge technology. New sensor systems will radically transform food production industry into a more efficient and sustainable industry.

Edulia

1. February 2018 – 31. December 2022

Edulia responds to the urgent need of the EU society to find new ways to tackle the escalating issue of obesity, through promoting healthier eating from childhood, within the context of choice. Based on the relations between sensory perception, pleasure, food choice and food behaviour, the project will look for new approaches to drive children to like and actively choose healthy foods, developing healthier dietary habits.

Children and taste

1. January 2014 – 31. December 2017

There is a large potential for a better health in the population by improving diet and dietary behavior. It is particularly important to facilitate a healthy and varied diet for children and adolescents, as food habits and behaviors are established at an early age.