Pattanich “Irene” Siludom is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She has over two years of research and development experience and has received a research grant from the Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research to develop an innovative fruit coating to extend shelf life. Last summer, she was an intern at the innovation center for the Dairy Farmer’s of America (DFA), one of the largest dairy providers in the world. During her time at DFA, she did extensive work on developing food processing procedures like spray drying , conducting sample analysis, and conducting sensory panels. Irene plans on pursuing her passion for R&D within the industry after graduating in May 2023 and is currently seeking employment. Eventually, she hopes to one day play a part in solving the hunger crisis in developing countries.