Vidita Deshpande
Ph.D. Food Science
About Me
At the end of a culinary lab, when we all put our brownies together for a taste test, they all looked and tasted different. And that is when it hit me. My heart raced, and all I could think of for the rest of the day was the relationship between structure and functionality of the molecules in those brownies that made them different despite having the same ingredients. I struggled to find my answer in physical and analytical chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry, only to find my answer in food chemistry. That is when I knew I had found my passion- Food Science!
I am from a city called Pune in India where I finished my first two years of undergraduate studies in Food Science and Quality Control. Pune is a city in the western part of India and is known as the center of literature, education, culture, diversity, and ofcourse delicious food! I transferred to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, where I graduated with a Bachelors in Food Science in 2015. During my studies in India, I had an opportunity to intern in the largest dairy company in India, Amul. At Amul, I got an opportunity to observe and learn about the different processes involved in manufacturing of various dairy products along with their corresponding quality control checks. At Cal Poly, I had the opportunity to gain 'learn by doing' experience in food science which pushed me to pursue a PhD in Food Science at Utah State University (USU).
I am currently living in Santa Barbara, California working on publishing my research. My hobbies include reading, hiking, and dancing. I have been trained in classical Indian dancing and Bollywood. I am an avid hiker and love the outdoors. Cooking food is my stress reliever and food science is my passion. Working in product development teams has taught me a great deal about teamwork and also celebrate the foodie nerd that I am.
Education
•Ph.D. Food Science and Nutrition
Utah State University, GPA : 3.95, 2015-May 2020
•B.S. Food Science (Advanced concentration)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, GPA : 3.81, 2012-2015
Download my resume here.
