Oregon State University researcher, Yan Wang, talks about the post harvest lab instrumentation on Aug. 8, 2013 in Hood River, Ore.. Wang died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 27. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower file)

Dr. Yan Wang, who led postharvest physiology research at Oregon State University, died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 27. He was 51.

Wang joined OSU as an assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture in 2011. He worked at the Mid-Columbia Research and Extension Center in Hood River.

Before working at OSU, he was a postharvest physiologist for JBT FoodTech Inc., from 2002 to 2011. He earned his doctorate in horticulture from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Wang is survived by his wife, Caixia Li, and his daughter, Sarah.   A memorial service is planned for Wednesday at noon at Anderson’s Tribute Center in Hood River. The service will be preceded by visitation hours from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., according to Anderson’s Tribute Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations for Sarah’s college fund, Wang’s colleague Steve Castagnoli said in an memo about the memorial service. Mail contributions to Sarah Wang college fund, in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031.

• This story will be updated.