Ep. 035 - [Graduate Student Series] Why Work Experience Matters Here with Audrey Girard,

Another episode of our graduate student series and this week, we are featuring Audrey Girard, who is doing her PhD at Texas A and M.

Audrey does an amazing job talking about her prior experiences and she had three different internships before deciding to go to graduate school.

Also, she gives awesome book recommendations like Lab Girl and The Man Who Fed the World. These are definenelty on my ever growing book list.

Enjoy another graduate student’s perspective. Do you see a trend so far? Just let me know.

The next four episodes will take you around the world and back again. We are interviewing someone in Europe on Wednesday, someone who traveled from the US to the Netherlands and two people who left their home countries to come to the United States to study what they love. You don’t want to miss these.

If you enjoyed this episode, please, sign up on our email list at myfoodjobrocks.com, like us on facebook,  rate and review on itunes, and share with your friends. If you show interest in being interviewed, know someone who would be a great interviewer, or would like to join our team of volunteers, make sure to email us at podcast@myfoodjobrocks.com.

About Audrey

Audrey is a 4th year PhD student in Food Science & Technology at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on the chemistry of cereal grains; specifically, she is working to alter cereal proteins using tannins to enhance and increase the applications for said proteins. Audrey graduated from Kansas State University in 2013 with her BS in Bakery Science & Management. During her undergraduate, Audrey completed three internships in food science and worked part-time in research labs on campus, which helped inform her decision to pursue her PhD. Audrey is a member of AACCI (American Association of Cereal Chemists International) and IFT. Audrey can be found semi-regularly Instagramming (@abiteofscience) and infrequently blogging (abiteofscience.wordpress.com).

Key Takeaways

- How Audrey’s three internships influenced her graduate school studies - Audrey’s unusual unofficial lab job - Audrey’s and Mine’s discussion of Holistic Health

Summary of Questions

Best thing about Texas A and M: The tradition Why did you want to go into graduate school: I liked research and I liked to go further in product development. Why did you want to get your PhD?: I really liked teaching Research: how Tannins interact with Gluten In layman’s term: How we can use gluten in other applications using an antioxidant called tannins Best hint about the application process: Make sure you have connections Food Trends and Technology: Holistic Health Approach Biggest Challenge the food industry has to face: Consumer trust Favorite Book: The Man Who Fed the World - Norman Borlaug Who inspired you to go into food?: My mom Advice for Graduate School: Get experience any way you can Something inspiring: Don’t just go to graduate school because you don’t have a plan: It’s a lot of work Favorite Quote: Everyone you meet knows something you don’t –Bill Nye, If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it enough - Albert Einstein Favorite Food: Steak and Potatoes, Medium-Rare, Mashed potatoes, I like Steak Fries

What We Talk About

Slaughterhouse Story Kellogg’s Internship Dansico internship Flowers Foods internship Grain Science Emailing professors Texas A and M Kansas State Purdue Rutgers Bakery Science Edible films Modified Starch Tortilla Ovens HPLC Wheat Mill Lab Girl-Hope Jarren – Important book Teaching Assistantships Research Assistantships Science Communication Perceptions of fat Cowboy beans and rice

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