The FoodGrads Podcast FoodGrads

Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., founder of Food Safety Strategy and former Chief Food Safety & Regulatory Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association. She is a food microbiologist by background and has worked in the Washington, DC, area for over 20 years, bringing the scientific perspective to food safety leadership positions within the grocery manufacturers association. She held previous food safety leadership positions with the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Institute of Food Technologists, where she led the FDA FSMA traceability pilots.
🔍 Episode Highlights:
Jennifer's food safety career journey Skills that are important for food safety professionals Safety concerns regarding produce Technology's role in the future of food safety Show Notes
Jennifers's  / Website/ LinkedIn
TIMESTAMPS
(0:00)  Introduction
(1:30)  Jennifer introduces herself
(5:20)  Jobs in food safety policy
(10:44)  Science and government policy
(14:10)  How to practice communicating science
(16:25)  Understanding people’s points of view
(19:48)  SPONSOR: CareersNow!
(20:13)  Food produce food safety
(24:31)  Food safety of sprouts 
(28:15)  Technology’s role on food safety for the future
(33:00)   How to learn about data science
(37:22)   Soft skills needed by food safety professionals
(44:34)   Outro
 
COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT
📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)
📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)
 
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
🎵 Connect on TikTok
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
 
SPONSORS
CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.
 
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Davis Jaeger is a R&D Leader, Culinary Expert and Food Scientist. He has had a winding career path up until this point. Davis began working in the hospitality industry at the young age of 14, starting as a busboy. However, his career took a turn when he transitioned to the kitchen after one of the chefs resigned and another chef invited him to join the kitchen staff. That's how he ended up in the culinary science program at Clemson University. Since then, his passion for food science has only grown, and he has not regretted his decision for a moment.
🔍 Episode Highlights:
▪ Challenges and failures Davis faced along the way
▪ The necessity of gaining manufacturing plant experience
▪ The difficulties of collaboration in research
▪ The skill of communicating technical details to non-technical stakeholders
▪ Asking good questions to get a problem solved
Show Notes
Davis's  / Instagram / LinkedIn
TIMESTAMPS
(0:00) - Introduction
(2:30) - Davis's career journey
(16:50) - Switching between R&D expertise (meat to confectionery)
(24:15) - Imporance of manufacturing plant experience 
(34:39) - How to ask questions in the workplace
(36:56) - How to demonstrate you can solve problems in an interview
(40:14) - Davis talks about his failures and challenges in the workplace 
(52:20)  Skills important to individuals looking to go into R&D
(55:40)  Outro
 
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)
📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)
 
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
🎵 Connect on TikTok
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
 
SPONSORS
CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.
 
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
 

On today’s episode we are talking about what a senior researcher does, the difficulties of collaboration in research and figuring out what you enjoy.
Matthew Teesgarden Ph.D., Senior Researcher and his role is providing strategic leadership for all scientific operations and communications in the Ohio States Foods for Health research initiative. FFH is focused on helping researchers work collaboratively to discover new ways in which food can enhance health. Matt completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Food Science at The Ohio State.
Sponsorship
Canadian Food Innovation Network: CFIN’s Food Innovation Career Hub is a a one-stop-shop for food professionals, students, and employers. This community is home to anyone who is interested in a career in foodtech or is actively seeking talented employees for their food business. The Food Innovator Career Hub lets you search job openings, access original content, and connect with a growing community of food professionals and mentors. Timestamps
 (0:00) Introduction

(2:22) Matt's career journey 
(6:48) Matt explains what a senior researcher does 
(12:08) Ohio State's Food for Health Initiative 
(22:24) Sponsor: Canadian Food Inovation Network
(23:00) How Matt learns about different disciplines 
(27:30) Attending talks as a student 
(31:10) Why Matt loves science communication
(43:56) How to figure out if you enjoy graduate science 
(47:16) Matt's experience with IFT
Links
Ohio State Foods for Health Research Initiative
The Lancet Study on Diet and Health
Matt Teagarden on LinkedIn
Tasting Columbus
IFT Food Disruptors Podcast
IFT Career Center
Show Notes
https://foodgrads.com/matthew-teesgarden/

On today’s episode we are talking about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, what’s it like working in a small business and finding your "why".
Surria Fadel, is the Co-Founder of Cedar Valley Selections. Cedar Valley Selections is not your average pita chip company. They are creating high-quality authentic pita chips in a variety of different flavours.
 Surria graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and has spent several years in the fitness industry in many roles including being a Personal Trainer, Coach, Fitness Instructor, and Pain Management Therapist. She started Cedar Valley Selections with her son Ameen after receiving a small grant from his school board and wanted to share his mothers’ famous Fattoush Salad recipe.
Timestamps
(0:00) Introduction
(2:19) Cedar Valley origins
(7:38) Where Ameen's entrepreneurship spirit came from
(12:05) Why Surria decided to commit to Cedar Valley
(13:00) What drives Surria 
(21:47) Sponsor: CareersNow!
(22:14) Experience running a manufacturing facility
(33:54) What it was like being on Dragon's Den 
(40:30) Where Surria looks for guidance
(47:36) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
Links
Surria's LinkedIn Cedar Valley  Show Notes
 
MORE COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT
📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)
📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
🎵 Connect on TikTok
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
SPONSORS
CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
 

On today’s episode, we discuss food safety consulting, essential skills for food safety professionals, and how volunteering can help you network.
Tania is the Co-Founder and Director of Assured Food Safety Consulting. She is here to offer guidance on navigating the world of food safety careers. Tania has a Master's degree in food science and is a proud Centennial College Biotechnology alumni. She has worked in food safety within the government and the food industry. Tania is passionate about giving back to the student community and helping companies improve their food safety.
Timestamps
(0:00) Introduction
(2:53) Tanya's career journey
(5:39) How Tanya found out about food safety consulting
(10:34) How food safety consulting works
(14:51) Skills needed by a food safety consultant
(13:05) Food safety regulations and consulting options
(24:51) Improving communication skills in school and beyond
(29:30) Overcoming language barriers
(31:20) Mentorship and why Tanya started to
(42:18) Skills students are lacking in the workplace
Links
Tania's LinkedIn Assured Food Safety Show Notes  
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)
📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)
 
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
🎵 Connect on TikTok
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
 
SPONSORS
Canadian Food Innovation Network: CFIN's Food Innovation Career Hub is a one-stop shop for food professionals, students, and employers. This community is home to anyone interested in a career in food tech or actively seeking talented employees for their food business. The Food Innovator Career Hub lets you search job openings, access original content, and connect with a growing community of food professionals and mentors.
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

On today’s episde we are talking about the Kaan's career journey, his book "Food for Thought" and philosophy.
About Kaan Demiryürek
Kaan Demiryürek is the Research and Development Director for Sustainable Packaging at PepsiCo. Pepsico products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo's food portfolio includes products such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream.
 Kaan has over two decades of career experience working at PepsiCo in food science, engineering and R&D spanning multiple geographies. Kaan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Engineering from the Middle East Technical University and His first role at Pepsico was as an R&D intern in Turkey. Since then he has worked in various business units in Europe (Turkey, Balkans, and East Europe) and North America across different foods categories. Before his current role in sustainable packaging Kaan led the R&D team for Potato Chips for North America.
Links 
Show Notes  Kaan Demiryürek's LinkedIn PepsiCo Food for Thought: Food Science and Engineering for the Future of Humanity by Kaan Demiryürek How modern science is turning our foods into medicines | David Julian McClements | TEDxAmherst Dr.David McClements Webinar for The Good Food Institute Kaan's email Timestamps
(0:00) Introduction
(1:52)  Kaan introduces himself and career history
(5:36) Difference between food engineering and science
(7:00) Why Kaan transitioned to sustainable packaging
(12:52) Discussion about "Food for Thought" Book
(20:00) Philosophy and R&D
(25:13) Sponsor: CareersNow!
(30:17) Importance of curiosity
(34:55) Prioritization in work
(42:00) Advice for inspiring food professionals
(45:39) Outro
 
MORE COOL STUFF
📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks)
📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
🎵 Connect on TikTok
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
SPONSORS
CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify