Griffin Meyer

“I got the chance to create my own sorbet recipes over the summer, and getting to try them at The Hub was just a huge experience for me."

-Griffin Meyer

Griffin Meyer wants to go into research and development in the food industry after he graduates. When Griffin isn’t studying, he enjoys watching films, taking late night walks, and keeping in touch with his friends.

Get to know Griffin

• Major: Culinary food science
• Class: Junior
• Hometown: Ames, Iowa (Story County)
• Career goal: Research and development
• Clubs/activities: Culinary Science Club, ISU Dining Creamery, Undergraduate research assistant, Kappa Omicron Nu
• Awards/honors: Dean’s list
• Favorite places on campus: Food Stores and Storms Dining Hall
• Most influential ISU mentor: Erica Beirman
• Favorite class: FS HN 104, Introduction to Professional Skills in Culinary Science
• Why Iowa State: Attended Food Science Day in 2018 and was instantly set on the culinary food science major at Iowa State.

Griffin Meyer takes advantage of opportunities on campus, works toward research and development career in food industry

During his last year of high school, Griffin Meyer wasn’t sure what path he’d be taking once he reached Iowa State University. When his mother suggested he take part in Food Science Day at Iowa State, he found that culinary food science was the perfect major for him.

“In high school I started to realize the importance of cooking and looking up to my mom, who’s a big cook around our community,” Griffin said.

Griffin said his mom was the best cook he knew, and following down her path was the best choice he could have made.

Griffin enjoys cooking, but he also enjoys being given a task and having the freedom to complete it in any way he’d like, which is why he wants to go into research and development in the food industry after he graduates.

“[Research and development] is all encompassing, which I like,” Griffin said. “It’s working to develop new types of food, which I’ve always been interested in.”

Here at Iowa State, Griffin has taken part in many experiences that have prepared him for his career in food research and development. He is the treasurer of the Culinary Science Club, and has worked as both an ISU Dining Creamery intern and an undergraduate research assistant.

As an undergraduate research assistant under Shannon Coleman, Griffin helped provide farmers with information on food safety while they harvest and process their food.

“I wrote scripts and helped produce little videos to educate farmers on the new [Food Safety Modernization Act] guidelines,” Griffin said.

Some of these video topics included pest control, water quality, and safe handling and sanitizing of fruits and vegetables.

His most memorable and important experience to him was that of working as an ISU Dining Creamery intern. Griffin said it was always something he’d wanted to do, and it allowed him to get a taste of what he could be doing in the future.

“I got the chance to create my own sorbet recipes over the summer, and getting to try them at The Hub was just a huge experience for me,” Griffin said.