Gabriella J. Gephart
Department of Food Science and Technology
Food Science and Technology
Powell, OH
2023 Distinguished Senior Award Recognition Reception Program (.pdf)
2023 Distinguished Senior Award Recipient Reception Poster (.pdf)
To Gabriella Gephart, being a Buckeye means being a well-rounded person—engaged with academics, research, student organizations, and having plenty of school spirit. By that definition, Gabriella has been an exemplary Buckeye throughout her undergraduate career. From mentoring peers in the Department of Food Science and Technology, to her independent research, to her membership on OSU’s Institute of Food Technologists’ College Bowl Team, Gabriella has seized every opportunity —all while maintaining a GPA that has her on track to graduate summa cum laude.
Her research in Dr. Ahmed Yousef’s lab led Gabriella to discover and characterize antimicrobial-producing bacteria in artisanal cheese. While she enjoys the chance to do applied chemistry in the Department of Food Science and Technology, Gabriella keeps one foot in the world of pure chemistry through her work as a Teaching Assistant in a general chemistry lab course, teaching a lab of 25 students each week, holding office hours, grading lab reports, and creating a positive and nurturing learning environment in a course most students find intimidating. She credits the experience with sparking her love for teaching and considers it one of her most rewarding endeavors.
Two internships supplemented Gabriella’s research, extracurriculars, and coursework with practical industry experience. At Rime Time Pops, a local popsicle producer, she saw the hard work that goes into running a small business and gained hands-on experiences with product development. Gabriella reflected that, “Not many students can conceptualize an idea, develop it, and get to see people eat their product.” At the J.M. Smucker Company in Orville, OH, Gabriella spent a summer as a Research and Development Intern on the Uncrustables formulation team. There, she gained perspective on the lessons learned in the classroom, witnessing the processes that work together to bring beloved products to consumers. Among all her experiences, Gabriella sees her selection as a Food Science Peer Mentor her sophomore year as her greatest accomplishment. One of the youngest mentors admitted to the program, she was proud to join a group of students she had looked up to since entering the department.
Gabriella names Dr. Ahmed Yousef as her mentor and shares the following: “Dr. Yousef saw something in me while I was a student in his classes even though I rarely spoke out or asked questions in class. He offered me a position in his lab, and that is where I found a real passion for research. He is so incredibly knowledgeable and is always willing to help me understand a topic or plan an experiment. I have learned more from him than I have from any other professor. I have experienced nothing but kindness and encouragement from him. Without him I would not be the student and researcher that I am today.”
Her successes as a Buckeye need not stop with her graduation this spring, as Gabriella has been accepted into the Food Science and Technology PhD program here at Ohio State this autumn.
Service, involvement, and accolades: Recruitment and Scholarship Committee, senior undergraduate representative | Food Science Club, co-social chair | FoodS.U.R.E | OSU College Bowl Team | Food Science Peer Mentor