About the role#
The Department of Nutrition and Food Science is looking for Student Research Assistants to support an applied research project. You will focus on analyzing food starches and optimizing their use in extrusion processing for cheese snack development. This role provides hands-on experience in food science research, laboratory data collection, and food processing technology. You will work directly with faculty, graduate students, and research staff.
What you'll do#
- Analyze food starches and ingredients for extrusion functionality.
- Participate in extrusion processing experiments for cheese snacks.
- Collect and manage experimental data using basic statistical methods.
- Perform texture analysis, bulk density, and porosity measurements.
- Support laboratory and pilot-scale activities for graduate students and research staff.
- Assist with teaching demonstrations and labs related to food processing.
- Learn to operate new food processing and analytical technologies under supervision.
- Maintain the cleanliness and organization of the lab and processing areas.
- Follow project protocols provided by the Principal Investigator.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment as a full-time student at Cal Poly Pomona.
- A background in Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, Agriculture, Chemistry, or a related field.
- Familiarity with data collection, statistics, or experimental analysis, including relevant coursework.
- A willingness to learn advanced food processing technologies like extrusion.
- Ability to work well in a research team.
- Strong communication skills and attention to detail.
- Commitment to a minimum of 10 hours per week.
Location & details#
- Location: Pomona, California (On-site).
- Compensation: $18 per hour.
- Schedule: Minimum 10 hours per week, flexible around your classes.
- Term: Rolling.
About Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises
Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises is a nonprofit organization established in 1966. It operates in the higher education sector and provides services to Cal Poly Pomona. The organization manages dining, college retail, student housing, hospitality, and real estate. Surplus funds from these operations support the university by providing financial and facility resources for students, faculty, and staff.
How to get in at Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises
Applying to Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises early gives you a distinct advantage, as hiring managers often review the initial batch of candidates before the applicant pool becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, ensuring you are among the first to submit your materials. This proactive approach helps you stay ahead of the crowd. You can also improve your response rates by reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles directly to ask about the position or a potential referral. Intern Insider surfaces these specific contacts for you, allowing you to move beyond the standard application queue and connect with the people actually making the hiring decisions.
