Heather Spooner is a final-year Biology and Chemistry student who was awarded the Employability Bursary during the summer of 2022.
Heather used the fund to support her internship at the University of Reading and reflects on the experience below:
Having already decided that I would pursue a career in food science once I finish my degree, I thought it would be useful to gain some work experience within this field beforehand. Fortunately, an amazing opportunity then came up to work for two months in the flavour chemistry department at the University of Reading, to which I successfully applied. Flavour chemistry combines the chemistry and biology of how the receptors in our nose detect aroma compounds, so this role was perfect as it allowed me to put the knowledge obtained from my degree into practice.
Heather Spooner
As the University of Reading is one of the leading research institutions in this field in the UK, I had access to specialist equipment which allowed me to detect and examine, one by one, the compounds that make up a food’s overall aroma. This was a stimulating experience and only served to deepen my fascination with aroma compounds and the impact they have on our daily lives.
I found that I really enjoyed working in an academic research environment, as there was real freedom when it came to choosing what to study, and it was inspiring to see that everyone around me was so enthusiastic and passionate about their chosen subject area.
I was also afforded the opportunity to meet a wide range of people through this role, all of whom contributed to broadening my horizons in different ways. For example, I engaged with companies from the food industry who were looking to improve the smoked flavour of their plant-based meat, while I also spent time learning from other researchers who specialised in a completely different area of food science.
I connected with PhD students from all over the world who shared their diverse set of experiences with me, while I also got to meet members of the public who had been adversely affected by Covid-19, suffering from a condition called parosmia, which results in a distorted sense of smell that causes normal foods such as coffee and onions to smell repulsive.
This was related to my main project, which focused on identifying the specific compounds in foods that trigger a parosmic response and investigating whether there are ways to combat this. To carry out this research, I designed experiments, recruited participants, used a variety of technical machines, and conducted extensive data analysis. It was an enriching learning process to be involved in and I am sure that the skills I developed there will be invaluable to me in my career.
I would advise anyone thinking of applying to think carefully about what they want to do long-term for a career and then work out how you could get there. I managed to get my placement after attending a virtual talk held by the University of St Andrews Chemistry Society and subsequently contacting the speaker at the event, who was previously a student at the University of St Andrews before becoming a researcher at the University of Reading. There are many ways you can explore different career paths and it is worthwhile to try to make the most of all the resources and options available to you.
The Employability Bursary has helped me to gain the practical and analytical experience in food science research that I needed, and I hope this can lead me towards more exciting opportunities in the future.
As well as the vital professional and academic experiences that I gained, living away from home gave me so much independence, allowing me to meet new friends of all ages and backgrounds and providing me with the chance to explore the south of England amid one of the hottest UK heatwaves ever recorded.
I can safely say it was the most exciting summer of my life so far.
We are delighted to hear that Heather has had such a positive experience through this placement, and that the Employability Bursary has helped her to make the most out of it. To find out more, including information on how to apply and eligibility, please visit our Employability Bursary page.
