“It was the thinking behind food choices that intrigued me most”
Michael grew up in Oamaru and came to Otago to study Nutrition, but he found himself most often in the Food Science department and quickly decided that the science of food and the science of consumer behaviour were the things he wanted to pursue.
“I did a double major in Consumer Food Science and Marketing. I particularly enjoyed my third year, there was lots of sensory science, lots of flavour profiling, and then the behavioural stuff. It was a great combination of the science and the psychology of choice.”
Michael worked with the New Zealand Honey Company on his Masters' research. The skills and connections he made there turned into a job offer and in 2013-2014 he was their Head Scientist and Marketing advisor.
“I took a bit of time out part way through my final year to compete in Masterchef New Zealand. It was a great experience, and I definitely think that studying food science contributed to essential skills with the background in flavour development.”
Michael is now the New Product Development Manager at Harraway and Sons Ltd. “Every day I'm coming up with concepts for new products for the company and developing them for market.”
“If your passion is food, Food Science is the way to go. It gives you the chance to explore the bigger issues that surround food – the science behind food, new product development, consumer behaviour, and the consumer experience. It covers a wide spectrum of issues related to food and really gives you the best path and direction into the food industry.”