University of Limerick Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Farrell

In the latest instalment of our Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to Michelle Farrell, a graduate of the BSc Food Science and Health who has also completed a Masters by Research in Food Science at UL. 

Since graduating, Michelle has established FoodSteps, an innovative educational programme to help children understand food and build healthy habits from a young age.

Michelle speaks about why she chose to study Food Science at UL, what she enjoyed most about her course and how what she learnt during her time at UL led her to setting up FoodSteps. 

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m from Castlecomer, County Kilkenny. I attended primary school at the Presentation Convent National School and secondary school at Castlecomer Community School before going on to study at University of Limerick. There I completed both my undergraduate degree in Food Science and Health and MSc by Research.

I’ve always been very involved in sports. I play Gaelic football with my local club, run regularly and have done Irish dancing, as well as other styles of dance, over the years. I also enjoy taking part in sporting events and community activities.

Why did you choose to study Food Science at UL?

I’ve always had an interest in food and health, especially from being so active growing up. I also really enjoyed Home Economics in school, which got me interested in learning more about how food works and how it affects the body.

UL stood out to me after attending an Open Day. I really liked the campus, the facilities and the overall atmosphere. I had also heard very positive feedback from past students, which reinforced my decision.

What did you enjoy most about the BSc in Food Science and Health?

I really enjoyed the variety within the course. It covered everything from Chemistry and Food Science to Public Health Nutrition, which gave a broad and well-rounded understanding of food.

Modules such as Public Health Nutrition, Functional Foods, Research Trends in Food and Health, and Anatomy and Physiology were particularly interesting to me. I also really liked how it was a small sized course, which allowed for strong friendships to develop.

A major highlight was my placement, where I was able to apply what I had learned in a real-world setting.

Why did you decide to continue your studies do the MSc by Research at UL?

I decided to pursue an MSc by Research after developing a strong interest in functional foods during my undergraduate studies. This interest was strengthened through my final year thesis, where I explored the role of bioactive compounds in food and their impact on health.

I became particularly interested in how compounds like polyphenols can be incorporated into foods to improve their functional properties and potential health benefits, which led me to pursue further research in this area.

My MSc by Research focused on extracting antioxidant polyphenols from purple tea using sustainable methods, as well as applying microencapsulation techniques to improve their stability in food products. I also looked at how these compounds behave in real food systems and their potential health benefits. This work was published as a peer-reviewed paper in the LWT – Food Science and Technology Journal.

What was the most important thing that you learned while studying Food Science at UL?

One of the most important things I learned while studying Food Science at UL was the ability to adapt and continually strive to improve. 

Through labs and research, I realised that results aren’t always straightforward, and often require you to step back, question your approach and think more critically about what’s happening. It taught me to be resilient, solution-focused and always look for ways to improve.

That mindset is something I now bring into FoodSteps, as I continue to develop and refine the programme.

What did you enjoy most about studying at UL?

I really enjoyed the collaborative and welcoming environment at UL. From the beginning, it felt like a very supportive place to learn and there were so many facilities available both academically and socially.

I also loved how active and lively the campus was. There was always something going on, whether it was sports, events or nights organised by the Students’ Union. Some of my favourite memories are from nights in the Stables and concerts in the courtyard – they really added to the overall college experience.

Were you a member of any clubs and societies during your time in UL? 

I was involved in Ladies Football and the Dance Society during my time at UL, and they played a big part in my overall experience.

Being part of the football team allowed me to meet people from different courses, travel to other colleges and take part in matches and competitions. It was a great way to stay active and be part of a team environment outside of my course.

I was also part of the Dance Society, where we got the opportunity to compete at intervarsities and represent UL. It was such a fun experience and a great way to meet new people while doing something I enjoyed.

How did UL support you throughout your studies? 

UL supported me in many ways throughout my studies. One of the biggest advantages was the cooperative education programme as part of the undergraduate degree, which gave valuable real-world experience in industry and helped build confidence going into the workplace.

I also had the opportunity to present my final year project to industry professionals, including Kerry Group, where our group placed second. Experiences like that really helped bridge the gap between college and industry.

Dr Daniel Granato, former Associate Professor in Food Science and Health at UL, played a pivotal role in my journey. His teaching in functional foods sparked my interest in the area, and his support and mentorship were instrumental in enabling me to publish both my final year project and my MSc by Research. I am forever grateful for his guidance and the opportunities he provided.

I also found the Science Learning Centre extremely beneficial, especially in first year when I hadn’t previously studied Chemistry or Physics. It really helped me build a strong foundation and confidence in those areas.

Tell us about your career journey so far and why you decided to set up FoodSteps.

During my studies, I gained experience across a range of roles within the food industry. As part of my placement, I worked in Quality Assurance with Glanbia, which gave me insight into food production, quality standards and how products are brought to market.

I also worked as a Laboratory Demonstrator in the university during my master’s, where I supported students in practical sessions. This was my first experience of teaching and communicating science, which I really enjoyed.

Alongside this, I worked in hospitality, retail and abroad as a Chalet Host, all of which helped develop my communication skills and ability to work with people.

After graduating, I worked as a Laboratory Technician with Tirlán and later as a Quality Technician with Abbott Diabetes Care. These roles strengthened my understanding of food, health and the impact of long-term conditions.

Across all of these experiences, I became increasingly aware of how important nutrition is, but also how little structured education there is around it from an early age.

That’s what led me to set up FoodSteps at the end of last year. FoodSteps is a school-based nutrition education programme that delivers structured, practical sessions in primary schools, helping children understand food and build healthy habits from a young age.

I set it up because I felt nutrition education is starting too late. Right now, around 1 in 5 primary school children in Ireland are living with overweight or obesity. With so much confusion around food, I wanted to create something that helps children not just be told what to eat, but actually understand why it matters, so they can build healthy habits from an early age.

How did your time at UL help you get to where you are now in your career?

My time at UL has helped me in so many ways and really shaped my career so far. It gave me a strong foundation in Food Science, but also helped me grow in confidence, especially in how I communicate and work with others.

The practical experience I gained through labs, research and placement has been really valuable, and I’ve carried those skills into all of my roles since. It also gave me the confidence to take initiative and apply what I’d learned, which ultimately led me to setting up FoodSteps.

What are your hopes and plans for the future?

I plan to continue expanding FoodSteps into more primary schools across Ireland and to further develop structured programmes that can be delivered consistently year after year.

I would also like to continue building resources that support teachers and make it easier to deliver nutrition education in a practical and engaging way.

Long-term, my goal is to make structured nutrition education something that’s consistently part of school life, not just something that’s touched on occasionally. If FoodSteps can help drive that, even in a small way, that would be a huge achievement.

What advice would you give to anyone considering studying at UL and in particular to those who might be considering doing Food Science?

I’d definitely recommend UL to anyone looking for a really supportive and well-rounded college experience. It’s a great environment both academically and socially, and there are lots of opportunities to get involved.

For anyone considering Food Science, it’s a really interesting and varied course, especially if you’re interested in science, health and understanding what’s actually behind the food we eat. 

One of the best things about the course is how many different paths it can lead to, whether that’s industry, research, nutrition or areas like quality and product development.

I’d also really encourage people to get involved in clubs and societies, as that’s a big part of the experience and a great way to meet people outside your course.

Here at UL, we’re known as the Home of Firsts. Are there any important ‘firsts’ from UL that you would like to share?

One of the biggest firsts for me during my time at UL was having my research published. It was a really proud moment and gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to contribute to the field.

Another important first was presenting my final year project to industry professionals, which helped build confidence and gave a real sense of how what we were learning could be applied outside of college.

We encourage our students to ‘Stay Curious’. What keeps you curious and how important has curiosity in your life and career? 

Curiosity has played a huge role in both my studies and my career.

Food science and nutrition are constantly evolving and there is always something new to learn, whether that’s new research, trends or developments in the industry.

Staying curious has pushed me to keep learning and improving, and it’s something that plays a big role in FoodSteps, where I am always looking at ways to make the programme more engaging, relevant and effective for children.

It also carries into my personal life, as I’ve always had a strong interest in health, sport and wellbeing, and I enjoy continuing to learn more in those areas.