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What inspired you to pursue Food Science and Technology (Honours) at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ, and how did it fit with your career goals?

I initially started a degree in Chemical Engineering but realised I found the content most interesting when it connected to food. For this reason I decided to pivot to studying a Bachelor of Food Science and Technology (Honours) at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ. This better aligned with my passion for chemistry and curiosity about how food is made, something I wanted to pursue in my career. ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç stood out as the only Australian university offering this degree through the School of Chemical Engineering. This structure offered a unique perspective: studying food not just from a nutritional angle, but also as a commodity that can be engineered, processed, and scaled.

Was there a particular project or experience during your studies that had a major impact on your career path?

My standout experience was the Product Design Project in my fourth year of the Food Science program. Our team was tasked with developing a novel product over two trimesters. It was challenging, but I really enjoyed the hands-on problem-solving during prototyping. Seeing our ideas evolve through iteration and overcoming setbacks was incredibly rewarding. Before this project, I hadn’t seriously considered pursuing academic research but the creative and analytical thinking required sparked an interest for research-driven problem-solving. This ultimately led me to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ! 

Which technical or professional skills from the program have proven most valuable in your day-to-day work?

Although I haven’t moved far physically, my day-to-day work looks very different from my undergrad! That said, the skills I gained during the Food Science and Technology program continue to play a role in how I approach research. 

Technically, the Food Science program gave me a strong multidisciplinary foundation. Courses in fluid mechanics, unit operations, food ingredient properties, microbiology, and molecular biology all contribute to how I interpret experimental results and approach problem-solving in the lab. 

Writing lab reports during undergrad also helped me develop a clear, concise writing style, something I continue to refine in my thesis work. Additionally, frequent presentations in the program taught me not just how to convey complex ideas clearly, but also how to tell a compelling story through visuals and public speaking. These skills are invaluable, as the impact of research often depends on how well it's communicated.

What advice would you give to students wanting to follow a similar path?

What I’m working on now is worlds away from where I thought I was headed during undergrad, let alone in high school! No one’s path is truly linear, so stay open to exploring new opportunities, even if they take you in unexpected directions. With some determination and patience, you can do anything you set your mind to!