The projects were challenging and geared toward my career goals in editing and writing. I'm also much more familiar with the scholarly journal publishing process thanks to this internship. And as someone not from the San Diego area, I appreciate that FFC offers remote internships so I could get involved.
What I wish was different
I didn't start getting article writing tasks until toward the end of the internship. This likely varies from person to person, though, and in my case, I was very busy with editing tasks.
Advice
Communications are primarily based around Skype IM and video calls rather than email, so it's easy to get a timely response to any of your questions or concerns. Definitely take advantage of these resources if any questions come up.
1
One person found this helpful
Functional Foods and Nutrition Intern
June - August 2019 • Dallas, TX
What I liked
I really enjoyed the flexibility of the internship and how I was able to complete various tasks. Dr. Martirosyan made it clear that I should let him know if there were any particular areas I wanted to focus on to get the most out of the internship. In addition, the hours were very flexible and Dr. Martirosyan was very accommodating to any issues I had.
What I wish was different
I wish that there had been some more collaboration with other interns on some projects.
Advice
Since it is a remote internship and you can create your own hours, make sure to be open with the employer if any conflicts come up. In addition, you must be very organized to make sure you complete tasks in a timely manner.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Health and Disease Internship
January 2020 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
Greatly enjoying my online internship here! Everyone is helpful and friendly and the subject is very interesting. A lot to be learned here!
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
I like being able to work independently while receiving feedback and guidance on my performance.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Nutrition Intern
June - July 2019 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
Boss was always available for communication
What I wish was different
tasks that were geared more towards learning about and being inspired by nutrition
Advice
They expect very quick work so do not take too long with any task
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Assistant Editor
June 2014 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
I really enjoyed my time at the Functional Foods in Health and Disease or FFHD journal. They trained me up, and I got to learn about scientific research databases, how to use their journal platform (Open Journal Systems), and more. There was always opportunity to grow.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more opportunity to collaborate with other interns.
Advice
For someone to succeed in this role, they need to be diligent and organized. The internship role is remote.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Marketing Intern
August 2019 • Wichita, KS
What I liked
I like that the internship is remote so I can work from home and don't have to travel. I like that there is a variety of tasks to complete that focus on different areas of my career path. I am allowed to work independently, but I can always ask for help or feedback .
What I wish was different
Getting to meet and work with other staff members would be good. Also, there is a lot of working on Linkedin, which can sometimes get repetitive.
Advice
Make sure to have enough time in your schedule to work 15-20 hours a week. If you're taking a lot of classes you may not have enough time to balance both.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Editing Intern
May - September 2019 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
The time I spent interning for the Functional Food Center was absolutely priceless. I was immediately involved in a variety of tasks from helping write newsletters to editing review articles submitted to their scientific journal, as well as their upcoming textbook. I worked closely with Dr. Danik Martirosyan who is a knowledgeable, helpful and understanding employer, as well as an expert and pioneer in the field of food science. One of the best parts of this job is that I learned so much relevant information about the field, right down the the foundational science that defines it. This was no regular internship experience, and I feel as though I played an extremely active role at the Functional Food Center.
What I wish was different
I honestly was extremely satisfied with my experience and wouldn't want much to change. I thought communication, organization and flexibility were all impeccable.
Advice
This position requires a serious commitment to understand what is needed of you, and an extremely detail oriented mindset. There are many roles that can be filled at FFC through their internship program, but no matter which position you choose to take, there is one thing that will always be true: You are helping to build the future of an incredible company. They will place serious trust in you to work hard, fast, and effectively. Always put forth your best product and never take shortcuts. If you can do that, they are sure to notice the value you add to the company.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Food and Nutrition
May - August 2019 • Harleysville, PA
What I liked
I enjoyed how this internship was not simply entry-level busywork. From day one you are immersed learning about what is expected and put into a project. I experienced a variety of different projects which were all challenging in their own way which helped me grow independence and problem-solving skills, while there was help available whenever you needed.
What I wish was different
I wish there was more collaboration between interns and employees. Most of the work I had did not include working with other people within the company which helped shape my own personal work but not within a group setting.
Advice
I would advise future interns/employees to be ready to do all types of work as there are many different components to different projects. Also There
1
One person found this helpful
Web and Graphic Design Intern
May - August 2023 • Dallas, TX
What I liked
I enjoyed the variety of tasks I was given to work on. It allowed me the opportunity to engage in designing and editing layouts and content across multiple platforms, so it was a great way to enhance my skills and learn more from every task and/or project I was assigned. The flexible and manageable work schedule further contributed to an excellent working experience. It was a pleasure working with Dr. Martirosyan throughout the whole internship process. Despite the remote nature of the internship, communication flowed seamlessly. The guidance and feedback really helped me improve, for which I am genuinely thankful.
What I wish was different
Advice
I would suggest effectively managing your time. Since most tasks and projects are independent in nature, it's essential to maintain a clear overview of your tasks and their progression. Don't hesitate to seek guidance and ask questions through Skype which is the main source for communication.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Food and Nutrition Intern
February - May 2021 • Brentwood, NY
What I liked
I enjoyed the fact that Dr. Martirosyan was open to answering any questions I had promptly and very much geared the internship toward my interests and what I wanted to get out of it. I also enjoyed the flexibility I had with my schedule and how understanding Dr. Martirosyan was about any changes I had to make to my schedule, especially during finals.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been more interaction with other members of the FFC somehow. I only really interacted with Dr. Martirosyan, Grace, and one another intern, so I'm not really aware of who else is involved in the FFC and making things happen.
Advice
Make sure you develop good time management skills and remain focused on your tasks.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Journal Intern
March - June 2022 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
I liked the flexible work schedule and one on one time and learning from Dr. Martirosyan.
What I wish was different
I wish communication could have been more clear.
Advice
Ensure that you understand your task fully and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Food Science Intern
February - May 2022 • Myrtle Point, OR
What I liked
I am very thankful for Dr. Martirosyan's mentorship. I learned so much about the Functional Food Science world, as well as how to speak and pitch to C-level executives.
What I wish was different
I am a person that works better with a little more structure, but flexibility is definitely a plus for most.
Advice
I would be open to learning from all of those around you and making sure you stay up-to-date with your work as it is a very fast-paced internship.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Food and Nutrition Intern
June - August 2021 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the process behind scientific editing, formatting, and publishing. I enjoyed how the tasks were not surface-level and were tailored towards my interests. I also enjoyed the independence this internship allowed, while still being able to ask for help when needed.
What I wish was different
Advice
Take advantage of the Skype communication! It is super helpful in completing tasks and also gaining valuable knowledge.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Food/ Nutrition Intern
December 2020 - August 2021 • Coral Gables, FL
What I liked
I loved the project I worked on. It broadened my skillset and allowed me to be out of my comfort zone. Dr. Martirosyan was a wonderful mentor and boss and I really value everything that I have learned from him
What I wish was different
I wish I had been on more projects, as opposed to just one.
Advice
Make sure to ask as many questions as possible and stay in contact with Dr. Martirosyan. Because my internship was virtual and I was able to make my own hours, sometimes it was difficult to reach Dr. M due to the time difference.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Food and Nutrition Intern
August 2018 • La Mirada, CA
What I liked
It’s a remote internship so I was able to schedule my own hours and everything’s conducted online so it’s really convenient and flexible!
What I wish was different
I wish I could’ve done more varying projects.
Advice
Even though it’s hard to do (especially with a remote internship), always communicate with the employer to ensure both you and the employer get the best experience possible. Don’t be afraid and don’t be passive when you want to voice any concerns or have questions. Chances are, the employer will really appreciate hearing your feedback.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Foods in Health and Disease Internship
March - July 2020 • Dallas, TX
What I liked
I really appreciated the opportunity to learn about functional foods and their role and their advancement and also about writing and editing for scientific journals. Working with Dr. Martirosyan was an invaluable experience; he's so knowledgeable and he really gave me the space to work on my own at my own pace. I really learned a lot and I'm very happy with this experience.
What I wish was different
Advice
I would recommend to keep in constant (if not constant, frequent) communication with Dr. Martirosyan in order to establish the goals and processes, as well in check-ins. This way, you'll get the most out of the experience and feel good every step of the way.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Functional Foods in Health and Disease Intern
March - June 2020 • Dallas, TX
What I liked
I really enjoyed my internship experience and learned a lot. Working remotely allowed me to gain valuable experience during the coronavirus pandemic. I was able to work on a variety of projects which gave me a better understanding of the company as a whole and overall research processes. I was able to work on projects both individually and in a collaborative setting. I would highly recommend FFC to other students looking to pursue a future career in medicine, food science, or research.
What I wish was different
I would not change anything about my internship. I felt that FFC provided a supportive environment in which I was able to share ideas and learn from others.
Advice
I would encourage others to utilize their resources and be adaptable. Even though I was not experienced in some areas, asking questions via Skype and doing research on my own allowed me to be successful.
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Web and Graphic Design Internship
May 2020 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
While, I have enjoyed the whole process, the key points I really appreciate have been the remote format and the work itself; these factors have made working with the Functional Food Center/Functional Food Institute so accessible and rewarding.
Timelines are smoothly paced, project variety keeps things engaging, and feedback is readily offered. Communication with Dr. Danik Martirosyan through Skype is very streamlined and associated internal documentation keeps things very organized.
Ultimately, it has been incredibly fulfilling to have the opportunity to practice my craft in such a tangible and meaningful way.
What I wish was different
Overall, there is nothing that I would really change about the process. The core aspects of the internship were within my expectations and were easy to balance/integrate with the other factors of life.
Advice
The key point to recognize going into a prospective Functional Food Center/Functional Food Institute internship is the nature of remote employment and its associated elements. A commitment to communication and personal time-management will be valuable assets.
The Functional Food Center/Functional Food Institute does a fantastic job minimizing the issues that can arise from exclusively remote based employment.
With a firm understanding of what is necessitated via remote employment, there is a great opportunity for those looking to apply to the Functional Food Center/Functional Food Institute.
1
One person found this helpful
Legales
May - August 2018 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
Great experience and great employer
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Advise you to do your work in a timely manner
Be the first to mark this as helpful
Research and Editorial Intern
February - June 2024 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
I liked that I was able to work on different kinds of projects ranging from conducting research, editing, writing, and redesigning the company's website. I learned about the steps that go into publishing a credible article and was able to refine my writing and editing skills. Also, I learned a lot about functional food products and bioactive compounds and how they can elicit certain effects on the body.
What I wish was different
Honestly, there is not much I would want to change about my experience with the FFC. Dr. Martirosyan values the inputs and opinions of interns so I felt I could always give my opinion on projects I was assigned. The internship is remote and very flexible so it worked well with my schedule.
Advice
I would advise that you be open to different kinds of tasks, as you are usually assigned a diverse range of projects.
