Summer Interns Shape Futures at NCFIL

Young environmental and food science professionals Andrew Beaver, Teddy Nguyen and Anna Meier embarked on a unique journey as NCFIL interns this summer, where hands-on experiences honed their skills, piqued their curiosities and shaped their career trajectories. 

From mastering state-of-the-art lab equipment to tackling real-world challenges, the NCFIL internships provided concentrated access to their fields of interest. 

Name: Andrew Beaver 

Graduation Year: 2025

University: Appalachian State University 

Degree Pursued: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Future Plans: Pursue a management position in water quality and waste management

Experience Gained: Environmental monitoring and food safety

Lesson Learned: I worked closely with global clients in the pilot plant. My experiences with them helped me realize everyone is unique. 

Favorite Lab Equipment: My favorite piece of equipment is the Luminometer. This piece of equipment tests for cleanliness and sanitary status. More specifically, the Luminometer tests for the presence of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It’s a crucial tool to prevent product contamination.

Name: Teddy Nguyen

Graduation Year: 2024 

University: Johnson & Wales University

Degree Pursued: Bachelor of Science in Applied Food Science

Future Plans: I hope to work in a laboratory as a microbiologist, focusing on food quality assurance or quality control.

Experience Gained: I’ve learned how to do environmental swabbing, test products for bacterial growth, write Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and develop and improve products.

Lesson Learned: I’ve learned a failure is only a failure if you let it be one; otherwise, it is gained experience.

Favorite Lab Equipment: My favorite lab equipment is the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader. It is the epitome of modern technology as it makes counting bacterial colonies easy. Counting colonies manually is difficult because it’s easy to lose track of your count, which colonies you’ve counted, and whether a colony is one or multiple colonies. 

Name: Anna Meier

Graduation Year: 2026

University: NC State University

Degree Pursued: Bachelor of Science in Food Science

Future Plans: I am eager to expand my horizons through internships overseas, which will help me gain a diverse perspective on food science practices and product development. While I am passionate about product development, I am also exploring various paths within the food science field to find the best fit for my interests and skills. 

Experience Gained: At NCFIL, I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of food science and innovation. From developing new product formulations to conducting stability tests, I honed my skills in research, experimentation and teamwork. 

Lesson Learned: One of the highlights of my internship was applying an NFIL client’s alternative proteins to everyday food products. It was eye-opening to work with such an advanced company, which made me feel excited about the future of food.

Favorite Lab Equipment: Since NCFIL is a state-of-the-art facility, I cannot pinpoint one specific piece of equipment that I enjoyed the most. It was interesting, however, to compare NCFIL to NC State labs.