NCFIL Summer Interns Eager to Learn

For the third consecutive summer, the NC Food Innovation Lab (NCFIL) is hosting interns in our state-of-the-art facility. Our interns gain hands-on experience in the pilot plant and product development lab with plant-based ingredients and finished products; learn safety and sanitation procedures; and participate in client visits.

Our four 2023 summer interns are already hard at work, learning about various equipment and getting a behind the scenes look at product development and food production processes. 

Andrew Beaver

Education: rising junior at Appalachian State University, pursuing a BS in Nutrition and Foods – Dietetics.

Most curious to learn at NCFIL: After working here for two summers, the Spray Dryer still is most intriguing to me because I am familiar with the products it can produce, such as protein powder or any sort of beverage or food powder, but I never knew how these powdered products were made. 

Favorite piece of equipment: My favorite piece of equipment is the Cross Flow Filtration System. This system works to separate particles in any sort of solution through the use of a membrane and intense pressure. 

Fun fact: My hobbies include exercising, hunting/fishing, and snowboarding.

Alle Blazinic

Education: first year of the MS Food Science and Human Nutrition program at the University of Maine; holds BS in Nutrition and Foods – Dietetics from Appalachian State University.

Most curious to learn at NCFIL: I’m curious about how I can bring my background of Dietetics to the field of Food Science to help create better products. Specifically, I am interested in the absorption of different plant-based proteins and the application of combining them to create a better PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score) for the final product.

Favorite piece of equipment: My favorite piece of equipment is the Extruder because I didn’t know anything about extrusion before this internship. It’s fascinating how raw materials go into this machine and come out looking like the final product in a short amount of time with novel results.

Fun fact: I like to take my black cat, Pierre, out on walks.

Addison Detig

Education: rising junior at NC State University, pursuing a double major in Food Science and Applied Nutrition.

Most curious to learn at NCFIL: I look forward to learning about the process of turning an idea into a real product. I want to work in product development and look forward to better understanding the process. I’ve already experimented with different recipes at NCFIL, motivating me to create the best product possible.

Favorite piece of equipment: My favorite equipment are the various tools used for quality assurance. These tools measure pH, viscosity, water activity, moisture, and the percent Brix. Without knowing certain product characteristics, we can’t ensure the product is safe for consumers. 

Fun fact: I enjoy reading and listening to audiobooks during my commute to work every day.

Mitchell Langston

Education: senior at NC State University, graduating in December 2023 with a BS in Food Science and a minor in Brewing Science and Technology.

Most curious to learn at NCFIL: I am excited to learn about food production and product development. I am also curious about the struggles when scaling up from benchtop to pilot scale. 

Favorite piece of equipment: The floor scrubber is my favorite piece of equipment. It is almost like a zamboni, but not as cool. It is fun to drive around and helps keep the production space nice and clean. 

Fun fact: Last summer, I drove across America from NC to California and then lived in California for 6 months. I visited 11 states, 17 national parks, 31 state parks, and 6 national forests.