It can be quite a challenge to bridge the gap between the academic world and the practical application in the food industry. But Nienke Grasmeijer does not shy away from a challenge. After a year as an EngD trainee at Bodec, Nienke is now permanently employed as a process technologist. In this blog, Nienke shares what fascinates her about the field and why she chose Bodec.
From academic depth to the practical world of process technology
Mid 2019, I completed my study in Food Technology at Wageningen University & Research, where I first obtained my bachelor’s and then my master’s in food technology. During that master’s program, I had the opportunity to conduct both my graduation research and my internship at Tetra Pak in Lund, Sweden. A wonderful experience that gave me more insight into both the chemical and physical aspects of food technology. At Tetra Pak, I also became acquainted with process technology. That made me realize that it’s naturally incredibly fun to develop a product in the laboratory, but if you don’t know how this product should be produced on a large scale, it’s not very useful. I decided to further my studies and started a two-year engineering doctorate in process and product design at the Technical University in Eindhoven. The first year is mostly theoretical, but in the second year, you must carry out a practical design assignment. Bodec gave me the opportunity to design their new multipurpose production plant as an EngD trainee. It’s unique to be able to contribute to such a large project at the age of 25.
Appointed as process technologist
After completing my studies, Bodec asked if I wanted to stay. I seized that opportunity with both hands. Since October 2023, I have been fulfilling the role of process technologist. I continue to be involved in the realization of the production plant. In addition, as a process technologist, I also supervise various customer projects that are carried out in our pilot plant. These involve tests that we perform on an increasingly large scale. I take care of preparing and supervising the tests and maintain contact with customers about their scaling processes. This keeps my work pleasantly diverse and very fascinating.
Working at the cutting edge of innovation
Where do I want to be in five years? Wow, that’s difficult to answer. I have such a broad interest. But I notice that I really enjoy bridging the gap between theory and practice. On one hand, there’s the knowledge of a product – its chemical and physical aspects – and on the other hand, there’s the practical side of scaling up and the process technology behind it. These two worlds do not always speak the same language. Often, a problem in process technology on a large scale can be traced back to a small chemical reaction. If you can connect these two aspects, you can really contribute to the development of more effective and efficient production processes. And that’s where my passion lies.
Sports, hiking, and traveling
I mainly relax by enjoying sports. I spend many weekdays evenings dancing and am always up for a vigorous boot camp session. In addition, I have a great love for traveling, hiking, and making hut-to-hut tours. For instance, I walked the long-distance hike of the Schladming Tauern tour in Austria. Last summer, I walked the Lasörling Höhenweg with my parents, also a wonderful experience. And on April 1st, my boyfriend and I are heading to New Zealand. With a camper, we will explore both the North and South Islands. We’re making a road trip, and I’m super curious about the diverse landscapes. We’re really looking forward to it! It’s great that Bodec also allows time off for this unique trip.
Let’s shape the future together
If you’re inspired by my story and want to know how Bodec can help realize your production ambitions, contact us through the form below or call +31 (0) 492 77 97 68. Together, we can take your project to the next level.
