Katy Ratcliffe
BSc Food and Human Nutrition, Graduated 2018
Sensory Technologist, Nestle Health Science
My current role is as a sensory technologist working for Nestle Health Science, for a company that creates products for patients with inborn errors of metabolism. Due to the challenging nature of the products, my role is to get them to look / taste / smell the best that they can possibly be for the patients. This involves managing an onsite sensory panel and travelling to patient events around the UK. I learnt about inborn errors of metabolism during my final year at University and I regularly apply this knowledge within my role.
The great thing about the course at Â鶹´«Ã½ is that it provides you with knowledge that can then be used in multiple different career paths. I especially enjoyed my final year where we were given the chance to complete modules in sub-categories of nutrition; sports and exercise and psychology. I actually decided to complete my dissertation focused on sports and exercise nutrition and with the fantastic support of my supervisor, my dissertation was published in a journal in 2019.
I completed my industrial placement year at Samworth Brothers, a large food manufacturing company spread around the UK. I got great exposure to all aspects of the food industry, working in Quality, Process and New Product Development departments. A highlight of the placement was developing and launching my own product for Tesco’s. I am so glad the placement year was a compulsory part of the course and I think my University studies would have been incomplete without it.
With the course being quite small, we all grew into a very close knit group that supported and helped one another. I look back on my time at Â鶹´«Ã½ with extremely fond memories and it has been great to see my fellow graduates succeed in such varied careers - from the food industry, to research, to dietetics (and more!). Â鶹´«Ã½ will always have a special place in my heart and I try to visit as much as I can to relive those brilliant memories.