As a product developer for Quaker Foods North America, Melissa supports innovation projects, focused on the bars category. Working on new product innovation involves creating formulas in benchtop formulation, scaling products up to full plant production, and working cross functionally to deliver the desired product in a safe and nutritious way. This requires both technical understanding to develop the product and communication skills to collaborate with the project team. Melissa completed her Undergraduate and Masters in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“I am very thankful for my time at UIUC with the FSHN department, as it has well prepared me for my current role with PepsiCo. Beyond my coursework, I was fortunate enough to gain technical skills through lab research, leadership skills through becoming a Teaching Assistant and taking officer positions in various clubs, and hands on experience through summer internships. All these opportunities would not have been possible without the FSHN department. The FSHN department is full of passionate individuals and is a very supportive environment that I am proud to have been a part of.”