Professor Helen Jacobs arrived in the department in 1987. She carried out extensive research in the isolation and identification of compounds from the endemic flora of Jamaica, belonging to the Clusiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Piperaceae and Rutaceae families. This resulted in the discovery of several new natural products and led to the publication of over 50 articles in refereed journals. In all she successfully supervised 8 PhD and 9 MPhil students, many of whom went on to become leaders in industry and academia. She won many accolades for her research, including the Silver Musgrave Medal by the Institute of Jamaica (2009), the Gleaner Honour Award for Science and Technology (2007), and the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence (Research Accomplishments, 2006). During the period of her Headship (2010-2014) the department made significant changes to the undergraduate curriculum and supported industry through the establishment of an MSc programme in Food and Agro-Processing Technology (2012).