Written by: Emma Boughman
McKee Foods is using a chemistry lab at Southern Adventist University to find answers to forensic questions, according to Jared Freeman, a 2023 Southern alumnus who works at McKee as an analytical chemist.
In an email to the Accent, Freeman stated that McKee Foods first started using Southern’s instrument lab in September. McKee hopes to make this a semester-long partnership.
“[The partnership] is a good reminder that a chemistry degree can put you in careers in a lot of different places, whether that’s just down the road at McKee in food chemistry, or in medicine, dentistry or pharmacy.”
According to Freeman, working with Southern was a natural option for the company due to its relationship with the university.
Professor Brent Hamstra, chair of Southern’s Chemistry Department, said McKee has used an instrument at Southern in the past to successfully answer its food chemistry questions. He says the collaboration has been a positive experience for McKee Foods.
Since McKee uses the instrument lab, not the general or organic chemistry labs, the partnership has not interfered with classes or student lab time, according to Hamstra. The instrument lab allows people to test different substances for research. He said he has been collaborating with McKee employees to coordinate schedules and discuss mutual interests and needs.
According to Hamstra, McKee Foods plans to buy an attachment for one of Southern’s lab instruments that would be helpful both to McKee and the university chemistry students. Hamstra believes the partnership with McKee will greatly impact what Southern can do for its students and also will supplement what McKee is trying to do in the company’s labs.
“[The partnership] is a good reminder that a chemistry degree can put you in careers in a lot of different places, whether that’s just down the road at McKee in food chemistry, or in medicine, dentistry or pharmacy,” Hamstra said.
At the most recent Chemistry Department convocation, several McKee employees shared internship opportunities with students and explained more about how they can use their degrees, according to Hamstra.
Nathan Dickerhoff, a senior chemistry major who is currently the only Southern student in the McKee Foods internship program, said McKee offers multiple opportunities within different areas of the company. He said students do not need to major in science-related programs to get involved.
“With this cooperation between labs, more project opportunities may arise that students should keep their eyes open for,” Dickerhoff said.
Dickerhoff works in McKee’s analytical lab on quality and troubleshooting of ingredients, middle steps and final products.
“With this cooperation between labs, more project opportunities may arise that students should keep their eyes open for.”
“We provide information into the shelf life of products and performance of ingredients and intermediates in production,” Dickerhoff said.
Ultimately, McKee’s goal is to form a mutually beneficial relationship with the university, Freeman said.
“We are big believers in giving back wherever we can, so we want to help the Chemistry Department in its mission to train students,” he stated. “We greatly appreciate the Chemistry Department’s willingness to let us have access to the instrumentation and want to help out where possible in return.”
