Alyssa Edwards

Major: Culinary food science
Company/Organization: Conagra Brands
Company/Organization website: http://www.conagra.com
Destination: Omaha, Nebraska
Timeframe: Summer 2020
Advisor/Coordinator Email: ebierman@iastate.edu

Responsibilities

Investigated and conducted benchtop and pilot plant experiments to gather data and prepare written reports for the commercialization of new products, or reformulation in existing products to improve quality and margins. Conceptualized and developed new product launches, line extensions, problem/solution identification, testing of new innovations.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment, was getting over my creativity block. I have always had a hard time being creative because I need conclusive data and logical findings. One of my projects in my internship forced me to get rid of these restraints and dive into my creative potential. I even won an award for my creative pitch.

Learning experience

The greatest lesson I learned was the importance of asking questions. I know they say it all the time in every lab and lecture. But when starting a new job that you have never done before it is very crucial to your success.

What advice would you give?

The best advice I can give to students is to go to class, ask questions, and manage your time well. In my internship a lot of in-class experiences were applied and helped me stay on top of tasks. Additionally, just asking questions and good time management will help you stay on top of tasks and avoid falling behind.

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