Thursday, March 28, 2024

Fonterra leaves impression

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An internship at Fonterra proved to be just as valuable to Massey University science student Victoria-Jayne Reid as it was to the dairy co-operative with the development of a new testing regime.
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The third-year science student spent her summer at the Fonterra Research and Development Centre across the road from Massey’s Manawatu campus helping to validate a new test for fat content in milk products that has proved to be robust and simple.

“The old reference method was highly laborious, it involved hazardous chemicals, manhandling and it took a long time,” Reid says.

“You also would not know if your results were accurate for two days. 

“The new method is more efficient, involves no hazardous chemicals and you know right from the get-go if your results are accurate.

“Validating the new technique involves running samples of a product, like cheese, through both the old method and the new to compare results. Now that they have the data I helped collect, the new method for fat testing is now an option for clients and is becoming part of routine lab tests as the reference method starts to phase out.”

She says working at Fonterra was an awesome opportunity and one she got a great deal of value from.

“I was also helping perform other tests in the lab I was working in,” she says.

“I learnt more about the dairy industry and its products by working on online modules and I helped with some of the daily workload received in the lab. There was a great atmosphere and it was really cool having updates on what other parts of the company are doing. 

“It felt really nice being adopted by this company as I felt like I was part of a greater network and that the work I did mattered and was important.

“It would be great to be able to work with Fonterra again and I now know that I definitely want a career in the science industry. The world’s understanding of science grows every day and I want to be a part of that growth.”

Reid says the internship gave her a valuable insight into working life and she found the experience to be completely different from studying.

“Going into the workplace was a big adjustment from studying. The days felt longer as I was working for eight hours, five days a week and I was working on the same project most days.

“The most valuable thing I learnt was what a real job is really like. Internships teach you valuable skills that can be relayed into your university work, such as time management, multitasking and possibly more refined skills, such as scientific techniques. 

“I also learnt how to enjoy what I did rather than just work because I had to, which it can feel like sometimes at university. I learnt that I would happily get a job working in a lab once I finish my degree. 

“I would strongly advise anyone to do an internship if they are given an opportunity to because it gives you valuable skills that can be translated into other areas of your life.” 

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