Exploring Opportunities in Food Science with Prairva (Summer) Plepalakon, UC Davis Food Science Grad

Prairva Plepalakon, also known as “Summer,” is a recent Food Science and Technology graduate from the University of California, Davis, one of the most respected food science programs in the world. UC Davis has built a strong reputation for pairing rigorous academic programs with deep industry and research networks, preparing students to make an impact in the food industry.

In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Summer shares what it’s like to study food science at UC Davis and reflects on the co-op positions she’s taken on — including one with a company making protein from air. We discuss her advice for students who want to stand out, what she learned from attending the IFT First Conference, and how hands-on experiences have shaped her career goals.

Summer was the winner of the Voices of the Future Podcast Challenge we hosted during our visit to IFT First. Her curiosity, openness to new experiences, and drive to explore the many opportunities in the food industry made for a great conversation.

This episode is especially helpful if you’re a student interested in food science, want tips for gaining valuable work experience, or are curious about how academic learning connects to real-world food innovation.

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SHOWNOTES
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RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE

→ #92 –   • Solving food R&D problems with Davis Jaeger  

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CONNECT WITH SUMMER & UC DAVIS

🌐 Website: https://foodscience.ucdavis.edu/
💼 LinkedIn (Summer):   / prairvaplepalakon  

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:50 Inspiration for Studying Food Science
03:50 UC Davis Food Science Program
06:20 Favorite Courses and Learning Experiences
10:05 IFT Product Development Competitions
14:00 Food Innovation Lab and Tools
16:40 Co-op Experiences
20:20 Finding Opportunities and Networking Tips
24:00 Skills Learned Through Co-ops
29:50 Discovering Ingredient Companies and Industry Roles
33:10 Attending IFT First Conference
34:30 Student Opportunities at IFT
36:50 Networking and Cold Emailing
38:30 Lessons from Networking
41:35 Career Plans After Graduation
43:00 Advice for Students
46:00 Closing Remarks