For Ereca Peart, the desire for empowerment at the workplace played a major role in her pursuit of the MSc degree in FAPT in 2012. Prior to the higher degree, she completed the BSc in Biochemistry at The UWI in 1992, minoring in Microbiology and Zoology. Following this, she was employed as a Microbiological Analyst at the Bureau of Standards in 1993 – 2000, then worked at Polyfoods Ltd. for three months in 2001 as a Lab Superintendent. She later proceeded to Nestle Jamaica Ltd to accept the position of Food Hygienist/Microbiologist in 2001 - 2004. Subsequently, she joined the staff of Kraft Foods Jamaica Ltd. as Quality Assurance Manager in 2004 – 2007. To upgrade her management skills, she enrolled at the Caribbean School of Theology, graduating with the MBA degree in 2008.
In 2007, she moved to Caribbean Products Company Ltd. (a subsidiary of Seprod Jamaica Ltd.), to take up her current position of Quality Assurance Manager. The job entails responsibilities such as lab management, research and development and food safety. She was propelled to rise to the challenges of her job and to better equip herself to manage the food chemistry labs she found herself in charge of. Not a chemist by training, but a biochemist specializing in Microbiology, she felt the need to pursue the FAPT degree to improve herself. “I wanted to do some further studies as, in my opinion, I did not have
a strong chemistry background and found myself running chemistry labs. So I decided to to go back to school, refresh my knowledge and learn what is needed in the industry. The MSc in FAPT gave me increased knowledge and confidence to do my job,” she said. The programme offers a Food Processing Technology course which deals with the design and operation of food processing equipment. “This course helped me tremendously,” she said.
Her thesis titled - A Preliminary Investigation of the Impact of Cryogenic Freezing at Selected Temperatures on the Nutritional Composition and Sensory Attributes of Ackee – examines cryogenic freezing as an alternative method for processing ackees. Encouraged by her course coordinator Dr. Ian Thompson, she selected this topic because of the national importance of ackee and she wanted to work on something practical and significant. The study also presented the opportunity to do a portion of her work overseas, utilising the technology covered in the Food Processing Technology course, but not available in Jamaica. Currently, she is working on her first journal article based on this research.
A graduate of Immaculate Conception High School, Peart's interest in Chemistry is still developing and she is appreciating the journey. She might pursue a doctoral degree in the future, perhaps in Food Technology Management or Food Safety. She would also like to fulfill her childhood dream of working at the international level with an organisation such as the United Nations or run her own food processing plant.
To students who wish to pursue a career path in Chemistry she says, “It is the best subject next to Engineering as it presents an exciting arena of knowledge; so much can be done with it. It is all around us and has a subtle but huge impact on life.” However, she advises that students should love the subject matter and be prepared to do mathematics.
Her life's philosophy is guided by the biblical verse: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 3:12). “Every obstacle or challenge can, if you work it well, become a stepping stone or a support to keep you going and maintaining the desire to achieve. As such, I can only do well,” she said.
Name of Graduate Student:
ERECA PEART, MSc
