Beyond FIPDes...

FIPDes alumni tell us what they are up to after graduation!

Alejandra Velasquez (Guatemala), Cohort 9 (2019-2021) is now the head of the Technology Hall of AgroParisTech in Palaiseau. Listen to her testimonial:


FIPDes graduates find employment within months of their graduation in a great variety of companies and positions in their home country or abroad.

Lukas Luggin (Italy), Cohort 8 (2018-2020) is making his way in the world of food. As a member of the Young EFFoST Council, he brings expertise in food innovation and agricultural sustainability, helping to shape the future of farming.
Currently, Lukas applies his skills at the South Tyrolean Farmers’ Association (Südtiroler Bauernbund), where he works in the Department of Innovation and Energy. His role is to help farmers integrate innovative solutions into their businesses—whether through technologies or the development of market-ready products. By collaborating with research institutions and industry experts across Europe, he ensures that scientific advancements turn into real-world benefits for farmers.

Tomaz Verdinek (Slovenia), Cohort 6 (2016-2018) enrolled in the Kerry Graduate Development Programme in Ireland:

"I was lucky enough to secure a place on the Kerry Graduate Development Programme, working specifically in Kerry’s Taste & Nutrition Business in Research, Development and Application (RD&A). Almost everything you eat or drink contains a Kerry ingredient, flavour or technology. We work with thousands of customers across the globe, including the top 10 supermarkets, quick serve restaurants and brands; in fact, any food or beverage you can imagine. We add protein to your post workout shake, we reduce sugar, while maintaining great taste and we have the know-how to replace the “baddies” in foods with wholesome ingredients. No matter what the product is, we can improve the taste, while balancing nutrition.
Since I have joined the business as Graduate RD&A Technologist for Meats, I have been learning a lot of Kerry technologies, applications and projects my team is working on. Our team provides custom based solutions for emerging trends in meat industry, whether this is development of improved (low salt, better texture, etc.) meat products, or development of authentic innovative products (such as meat free burgers). I also have started my graduate development programme and will attend residential training courses over the course of my two year programme. This focuses on my Leadership development whilst I learn the technical detail working in the day job with the support of my Manager and Mentor.
I really love working in Kerry because every day I learn something new, I have a great support in my team and my position is treated as of any other employees in Kerry. I would love to help other students looking for their graduate role by sharing this with them and raising the profile of Kerry with FIPDes students."

Tomaz Verdinek (Slovenia), Cohort 6 (2016-2018)

Studying Coffee Economics and Science in Italy, at Illy


During FIPDes, Su Chengcheng had the opportunity to work for the Research and Innovation department of illycaffè as an intern. During her four-month stay in illy, she started to drink authentic Italian coffees Italian style. She was able to speak with the students from the Class of 2013 of the Master’s in Coffee Economics and Science and see what was so attractive about this program.

She attended several seminars to get a closer look at the world of coffee, etc. This brought her so much fun and changed her personal outlook towards her career planning to a great extent. She is currently enrolled in the Master’s in Coffee Economics and Science and the first Chinese person to attend this program.

(text and picture from Circolo Illy)

"FIPDes trains the professionals of tomorrow"
Daniel Hellström, teacher-researcher, Lund University, Sweden

- Updated March 2026 -