The NC Food Innovation Lab’s new Pilot Plant Operator brings a winning combination of technical experience and genuine passion for food to this role. 

With a background in pilot plant operations and food science, Rodrigo Martinez manages NCFIL’s day-to-day lab processes, working closely with the NCFIL team to help food businesses test, refine and scale innovative food products.

Together with Operations Manager Joe Hildebrand, his collaborative, curious approach drives NCFIL’s mission to connect clients with advanced food processing techniques.

“Rodrigo hit the ground running,” says Hildebrand. “His curiosity and enthusiasm for food science have enabled him to learn quickly and already make an impact here.”

From the Kitchen to the Lab

Martinez’s love of food began long before he studied food science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

“Cooking with my mom and grandmother was always something I enjoyed,” Martinez says. “It made food feel like a way to connect with people.”

His family background includes a mixture of Mexican and Puerto Rican culinary traditions — influences that have inspired him to think about both the history and the future of food from a young age.

 “Looking back, most of my elementary school science fair projects were food-related. It’s always been important to me,” he says. 

Finding Food Science

Martinez’s seemingly divergent interests in the hard sciences and the culinary arts finally collided during an introductory food science course in college. 

Week by week, the class encouraged him to think methodically about the composition and chemistry of food. “Sophomore year, I declared a food science major,” says Martinez. 

As he became more drawn to the practical side of large-scale food production, he accepted a position in a Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory at University of Illinois while completing his degree. 

Here, he worked on a pre-treatment process using a hammer mill to reduce the particle size of various materials as well as gained hands-on experience with decanter centrifuges and various membrane filtration systems. 

With pilot plant experience under his belt and a newly minted degree in food science, NCFIL was an ideal place to begin his career. 

Supporting Pilot Plant Operations

As Pilot Plant Operator, Martinez assists with many aspects of pilot plant projects, including preparing equipment for trials, operating machinery during production runs and keeping the facility in order.

“Every project has its own process and equipment,” Martinez explains. “That variety is something I really enjoy.”

Since joining the team in November of 2025, Martinez has dedicated himself to mastering plant machinery that dwarfs the benchtop tools commonly used in academic labs. 

“When I first walked in, it was a wide-eyed moment,” he says. “Seeing all the larger pieces of equipment again, but now in a pilot plant, was so exciting. I like seeing them run and exploring all the different projects we can do with them.”

Life in the Lab

Martinez credits the supportive environment at NCFIL with an easy transition into his new role. 

When he isn’t working alongside Hildebrand in the pilot plant, Martinez assists other members of the NCFIL team with projects related to food safety testing and product research and development. 

Moving throughout the lab keeps his days interesting and allows him to experience the full life cycle of food innovation. 

“It’s been great to start my career at NCFIL and experience the concepts I learned in college applied in a real-world setting,” he says. 

A Culture of Learning

Now that he has settled into the role, Martinez is focusing on expanding his technical knowledge and gaining even more experience with the pilot plant’s equipment and processes. 

Since each day brings new opportunities for creative problem-solving, he is grateful to work closely with a team of scientists who are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge and experience. 

“This is my first position out of college, and I’m excited to keep building my skills here,” he explains. “I think that’s the most important thing for me right now is learning.” 

With his long-standing passion for food and the science behind it, Martinez is well positioned to support the ongoing work at NC Food Innovation Lab.