Vashti Campbell

Campbell graduated from BAE with a Ph.D. in 2022. Her adviser was Steven Hall. Her research focused on enhancing the depuration process for oysters. She says, “Oysters are filter feeders, so if they are in polluted waters, they may ingest contaminants in the water. Depuration is a process by which you can take a live oyster from a polluted body of water, put it in a clean water system, allow it to resume its filter feeding process and in turn purge itself of contaminants. Overall, this novel process reduced bacteria in the oysters and kept them alive, which if implemented in industry should make raw oysters safer for consumers.”

Life in BAE

“My experience at NC State was truly rewarding. From my very first visit, I felt embraced by the BAE community, which became like a family to me. The knowledge and life lessons I gained from my professors, mentors, and peers have been invaluable. During my four years at State, I was a member of ASABE, PROFESSing Christian group, a board member in the BAE Graduate Student Association and Underrepresented STEM Graduate Student Association, and I was involved in groups at my local church.”

“Always remember to work with joy.”

Career Path

“I considered a wide range of career paths after school including academia, government, industry, and consulting. To gain more insight into these fields, I reached out to current professionals in those job sectors, asking them plenty of questions about their work and lifestyles. I also attended virtual job fairs and presentations. Ultimately, my decision was deeply rooted in prayer, seeking God’s guidance for the best opportunity for me at the time. Thus far, consulting has proved to be a great decision and worthwhile learning experience.

My career path has been like a Candyland game board! It’s been full of twists and turns. It hasn’t been a straight path, but it’s definitely been a fulfilling and exciting adventure. After graduating from undergrad, I went straight to graduate school, but I struggled during my first attempt and left after about a year and a half. I had been studying food science, which really intrigued me, so while I was home, I started searching for jobs in that sector. This led me to work in various aspects of the food production and service industry. I’ve served at a catering business, worked as a server and shift manager at Jimmy John’s, and even served as a quality assurance analyst for a food manufacturer.

After about three years, God opened doors for me to return to school and complete my Master’s in BAE. With a newfound appreciation for food safety, processing, and engineering, I was eager to learn more. I then went on to complete my Ph.D. in BAE. Now, I work as a scientist consultant in food processing, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, and I really enjoy it. I’m glad I can be helpful and offer my best customer service to people.”

To current BAE students at NC State-

“I recommend forecasting which industries will offer steady employment in the future and focusing on pursuing careers in those areas. A good start is to research the sectors that remained essential during the pandemic—the food industry being one of them. People will always need to eat, so there should (hopefully) always be job opportunities in that area. Additionally, fields like agriculture, biotechnology for healthcare, and biological engineering are likely to continue offering strong career prospects. However, whatever path you choose, make sure it’s one in which you have a genuine interest. And always remember to work with joy.”