Food Protection Trends - November/December 2024 - 465

OUR EXPERIENCES
By the Recipients of the IAFP 2024 Student Travel Scholarship Award
SAMANTHA BOLTEN | Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Knowing how competitive the applicant
pool was this year, I am incredibly
humbled to have been selected as one
of recipients of the 2024 Student Travel
Scholarships, which granted me the
opportunity to attend the IAFP Annual
Meeting in Long Beach, California. This
year's conference provided me with
several opportunities to network with
food safety professionals in academia,
government, and the food industry. In particular, I enjoyed connecting
with my mentor, Neil Bogart, who offered invaluable information and his
perspective to better support my transition from academia to a role as a
food safety professional in food industry or government.
At the conference, I took full advantage of attending symposia and
technical talks to learn more about current trends and scientific advances
in food safety and food quality, and was highly impressed by the quality
and diversity of research that was presented at the talks. Additionally,
participating in several Professional Development Groups at this year's
meeting empowered me to brainstorm and identify future food safety
research priorities.
One of my highlights at this year's meeting was getting the opportunity
to present my research during the poster session. This year, the poster
session had an excellent turnout, and I communicated research findings in
my poster to a diverse audience, which included food safety professionals
from academic, government, and industry sectors. It was highly
encouraging to receive positive feedback from those in academia on the
quality of my research findings, as well as receive the opportunity to learn
more on how food industry professionals are incorporating techniques
similar to those represented in my poster toward their own food safety
programs to ensure the safety of the global food supply. Seeing firsthand
how scientific research can be translated into meaningful food safety
practices was truly rewarding.
Having attended several previous IAFP Annual Meetings prior to 2024, I
have witnessed substantial strides in IAFP's diversity, equity, and inclusion
initiatives over the years, and this year was no exception. I was particularly
impressed by the IAFP Foundation's recent efforts detailed in the Opening
Session to tackle barriers that may have previously restricted individuals
from attending the conference. Some of these efforts included developing
and offering scholarships and grants that provide financial support for
travel logistics and childcare, thus offering more individuals opportunities
to attend the conference.
Overall, I want to express my sincerest thanks to the IAFP Foundation,
which played an integral role in helping me navigate conference logistics
and provided ample opportunities to build connections with fellow
food safety professionals. I had an amazing time attending the 2024
Annual Meeting and highly recommend that students looking to enhance
their professional development apply for future IAFP Student Travel
Scholarships.
TYLER CHANDROSS-COHEN | The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
Attending IAFP 2024 in Long Beach,
California, as a Student Travel
Scholarship recipient was an incredibly
rewarding experience. I am deeply
grateful to the IAFP Foundation for
funding my travel and expenses for
the conference. I want to express my
heartfelt thanks to Ruth Petran, my
mentor during the event, who is truly
an extraordinary person dedicated to
food safety. Through Ruth, I was introduced to numerous professionals in
industry, academia, and government, providing me with invaluable insights
into potential career paths after earning my Ph.D. in Food Science. I also
extend my gratitude to all the IAFP staff for their unwavering dedication
to the organization and for assisting me throughout the year with Student
PDG donations, T-shirt orders, and travel award arrangements. Lastly, I
thank my advisor, Dr. Jasna Kovac, for believing in me and consistently
providing opportunities and mentorship throughout my Ph.D. journey.
As a first-time attendee at last year's meeting in Toronto, I experienced
the " food safety summer camp " atmosphere firsthand, meeting many of
my LinkedIn connections in person and engaging in discussions about
research and life experiences. I was also fortunate to begin my term as
the Student PDG's treasurer for the 2023-2024 term, allowing me to
connect with students in the food safety field. At this year's meeting in
Long Beach, again serving as the Student PDG treasurer for the 2024-2025
term, I enjoyed providing updates on a successful year of donations to
the Student PDG's funds (thank you, contributors!) and look forward to
the achievements of next year's board. What set this year apart were the
connections I made thanks to the Student Travel Scholarship. Each day, I
was able to engage with food safety professionals, discuss my research,
and explore future career options because they recognized my name or
face around the convention center. Communicating my research allowed
me to practice my scientific pitches and receive valuable feedback. I
was also fortunate to present a poster again this year, connecting with
food safety professionals and exchanging ideas about Bacillus cereus,
my favorite understudied foodborne pathogen. Additionally, I gained new
insights into the complex world of food safety by attending technical
symposia, roundtable discussions, and poster sessions. Beyond that, the
connections made during conversations will be cherished forever, and I am
immensely thankful. I look forward to continuing my involvement with this
incredible organization.
I strongly encourage students to get involved early with IAFP, especially
the Student PDG, as this organization provides a platform to grow, share
ideas, and learn from each other. I can confidently say that, if I am able, I
will attend future IAFP meetings, as the experiences of the past two years
have been truly astounding. I hope to grow alongside this organization and
continue learning about food safety!
November/December Food Protection Trends 465
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