Food Science Senior Spotlight - Sara Thomason

Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois

Majors: Food Science, Fermentation Science

Minor: Biotechnology 

Why did you choose Purdue Food Science: I chose Purdue Food Science because of the articles I found online from the department. Specifically, I was interested in researching sustainable packaging materials made from foods.

What made your Purdue experience great?: Having the ability to connect with people in a small department while being on a large campus has made my Purdue experience great.

Favorite Purdue Tradition: My favorite Purdue tradition is the world's largest drum!!

Favorite memory of your time at Purdue: One of my favorite memories at Purdue is one time when I had a snowball fight with friends on Memorial Mall.

Favorite Purdue event: My favorite Purdue events are the Demonstration Kitchen demos! I have worked as an instructor for almost 2 years after attending a demo I enjoyed.

Favorite club/organization: My favorite club is Allergenic Foodie Club which I founded with my friend and co-foodie Anna Hicks! I am the treasurer and help plan our meetings.

What other activities or organizations did you participate in while at Purdue?: Food Science Club, Purdue Sensory Lab, College Bowl, Fermentation Club, Purdue Student Sustainability Council. I have also researched bioprocessing in Dr. Eun Joong Oh's lab as an undergraduate researcher.

Favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus is the Food Science building, of course!

Favorite social activity: Some of my favorite activities are cooking, reading, and playing board games with friends.

Places you have been as a Purdue student: I interned with Sargento last summer in Elkhart Lake, WI. I have also visited local agriculture industries in the area as a result of being in Dean's Scholars. I have also been to local parks like Happy Hollow with Purdue Student Sustainability Council.

Favorite thing about Purdue Food Science and/or the College of Agriculture: All of the professors are passionate about what they teach and clearly care about the students' learning. It is nice to be in a small department within a large university.

Favorite professor: Dr. Cho, Dr. Oliver, and Dr. Oh were three of my favorite professors while at Purdue. They all cared deeply about their students' learning.

Favorite class: FS 245 Food Packaging was one of my favorite courses. Dr. Mauer did a great job teaching us about the different materials used for food packaging and providing us with great resources. FS 381 Industrial Fermentation Products was another one of my favorite courses.

Biggest accomplishments at Purdue: Learning essential time management and critical thinking skills. Navigating group projects. Understanding food science and what my career could look like in the future. Obtaining a 3.97 GPA.

Future plans after graduation: Following graduation, I plan to pursue a master's in food science.

Long term career goals: I would like to work in a role where I can express my creativity and collaborate with other scientists.

Advice for underclassmen: My advice for underclassmen is to meet with faculty members whose research interests you, even when you don't have a lot of time in your schedule!

Biggest takeaway from your time at Purdue: You will find your best friends at times and places you may not expect.