Katy Ratcliffe
BSc Food and Human Nutrition, Graduated 2018
Sensory Technologist, Nestle Health Science
My current role is as a sensory technologist working for Nestle Health Science, for a company that creates products for patients with inborn errors of metabolism. Due to the challenging nature of the products, my role is to get them to look / taste / smell the best that they can possibly be for the patients. This involves managing an onsite sensory panel and travelling to patient events around the UK. I learnt about inborn errors of metabolism during my final year at University and I regularly apply this knowledge within my role.
The great thing about the course at Newcastle is that it provides you with knowledge that can then be used in multiple different career paths. I especially enjoyed my final year where we were given the chance to complete modules in sub-categories of nutrition; sports and exercise and psychology. I actually decided to complete my dissertation focused on sports and exercise nutrition and with the fantastic support of my supervisor, my dissertation was published in a journal in 2019.
I completed my industrial placement year at Samworth Brothers, a large food manufacturing company spread around the UK. I got great exposure to all aspects of the food industry, working in Quality, Process and New Product Development departments. A highlight of the placement was developing and launching my own product for Tesco’s. I am so glad the placement year was a compulsory part of the course and I think my University studies would have been incomplete without it.
With the course being quite small, we all grew into a very close knit group that supported and helped one another. I look back on my time at Newcastle University with extremely fond memories and it has been great to see my fellow graduates succeed in such varied careers - from the food industry, to research, to dietetics (and more!). Newcastle will always have a special place in my heart and I try to visit as much as I can to relive those brilliant memories.