Name:  Adam Schonert
Major:  Food Science
Year:  Junior
Hometown/State: Algona, IA
Company/Organization:  Newly Weds Foods
Title:  Bakery R&D Intern
Location: Chicago, IL

Describe your internship responsibilities:
My primary responsibilities were to develop and formulate new bakery applications that could be included in a bakery catalog and sold to industrial bakery manufacturers.  At the beginning of the summer, I started at ground zero, developing and formulating a product day after day.  After getting close to my target, I focused my priority on troubleshooting my formulations to dial the product closer to where it needed to be.  Near the end of my internship, I was able to take the product that I developed to create different flavors so we were able to offer a wide variety of products to our customers.

What did you enjoy most about this internship?
While being an R&D Bakery Intern at Newly Weds Foods, I enjoyed learning how ingredients react with one another, along with their role in food products and their functionality.  Additionally, I enjoyed being able to collaborate with food scientists across the company.  Understanding what is happening “behind the scenes” in food, and why all of the ingredients are included in the product are my favorite things I learned.

How has this experience impacted your future career plans?
This internship impacted my future career plans by confirming my passion for R&D, specifically related to the bakery industry.  This internship provided me with a better understanding of the industry, as well as providing me a fuller understanding of bakery science through hands-on work with ingredients and formulations, as well as being able to collaborate with scientists in the industry. 

What resources did you utilize to obtain this internship?
I was able to obtain this internship through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Fair.  I met with Newly Weds Foods the evening before the Career Fair at a food science networking event.  The next day at the career fair, I continued our discussion, learned more about the company, shared more information about my experiences, and set up an interview.

What advice would you offer to other students seeking similar internships?
To students who are seeking similar internships, I would recommend being active on campus and in your department.  Develop relationships with your professors, faculty, and peers, joins clubs, and acquire leadership experience.  Schedule an appointment with Career Services to go over your resume.  Prepare for the career fair by researching companies you would like to speak with.  Lastly, be yourself and be your biggest advocate to earn an internship.