Olena Anoricheva

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Food Science and Nutrition

Donegal – Letterkenny

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to choosing your course? 

Hello, my name is Olena. I fled the war conflict in Ukraine and ended up in Letterkenny, Ireland. Before starting my education at ATU, I worked at a local shop. However, it had always been a long-term dream of mine to pursue a scientific education, as I have a passion for all things science! Initially, I was interested in several scientific courses at ATU, so I chose to enroll in the Science Common Entry programme. This gave me more time to explore each degree and make a well-informed decision. 
 
During the second semester, within the Science and Society module, our class visited many local factories and laboratories to get acquainted with the kind of work environment that awaits us in the future. I was captivated by the testimonies of the guest speakers who had graduated from the Food Science and Nutrition course and work in the field. I was also pleasantly surprised by the number of potential job opportunities for Food Science graduates in County Donegal, the entirety of Ireland and abroad alike. Everywhere where people eat there is a need for food scientists! 
 
The possibilities of food sector jobs are endless: from yummy sensory analysis, to innovative new product development, to research and food safety, just to name a few! There is also a pathway into nutrition and dietetics, which are also rapidly developing in-demand fields. 
 
I’ve always been curious about the everyday foods we consume and make it a habit to read the labels on products I buy. As someone who is driven to make a meaningful impact on society, the opportunity to be at the forefront of food safety analysis made this degree particularly appealing to me. I am looking forward to being able to protect consumers from potentially dangerous and contaminated foods in my career. The inclusion of work placements within the programme was the deciding factor for me, as I recognise how valuable hands-on experience is to potential employers. 

What are your favourite modules on the course?  

In my first year, my favourite modules were Physics and Science & Society. The Physics course involved a lot of fascinating experiments and introduced us to some equipment and the physical principles behind them, which were useful later on in courses like Food Technology and Instrumentation. Those featured more specialised equipment. Science and Society module was particularly fun and useful as it featured trips to related work places. We got to see how things were done in the industry and, of course, got to chat to potential employers directly! 
 
 

In the second year, my favourite modules were far too many! To shorten, here is my top three: Food Chemistry, Human Nutrition and Instrumentation. Food Chemistry featured lots of amazing labs like determination of nitrite content in meat, extraction of vanillin from a plant and lots more! Human Nutrition provided me with lots of knowledge that I now apply even in day-to-day life. Instrumentation provided me with essential skills and insights into the industry. 

Is there anything else about the course that you particularly enjoy or find beneficial?  

Trips to real work places (e.g. factories), work placements, interesting labs, working with real equipment. 

What is the best thing about your course that you think new applicants should know?  

Food Science is a unique, rare yet in high-demand profession. It has less competition compared to other STEM fields as it is lesser known, which makes it easier to land a job after graduation. The Food Science and Nutrition course at ATU Donegal is multidisciplinary in nature and features lots of interesting laboratory experiments to support the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures. I would recommend this course to everyone who is passionate about science and all things tasty! 

If you were speaking with a first year student about to start your course, what advice would you give them?  

If I were to speak with a first year student, I would encourage them to ask questions as the lecturers are there to help us and support us. I believe there is no such thing as a silly question especially if it will help you grasp the study material better! 

If you are involved in sport, volunteering, working or have other passions you pursue outside of your academic life, can you tell us about that?  

I am currently a Treasurer in the International Student Society. Other societies I frequently attend are the Debate Society, Christian Union and Politics and Law Society. I have also earned a national award for completing NStEP Introductory & Advanced Class Rep Training. 

What are your plans after ATU and any long-term goals you are aiming for?  

After graduating from ATU, my goal is to secure a job in the food science sector, ideally in food safety. I’m also passionate about working with seafood, including algae, as I believe in its significant health benefits and would love to help raise awareness of this type of food. Additionally, I plan to start a YouTube channel in the near future to share my nutrition knowledge and debunk the many food myths circulating on the internet.