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Course: Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Health 

Supervisor: Dr Miryam Amigo-Benavent 

Name of Research Project/Activity:  Study of the antioxidant and nutritional properties of brown seaweed enriched bread 

Q) Can you tell me a bit about yourself, and why did you decide to study Food Science and Health at UL? 

I’ve always been curious about how food affects our body and health — why people of the same age can look so different or have different diet-related diseases. I wanted to learn the science behind it and understand how to make food healthier. The course at UL gives a great foundation in nutrition, biology, and food science, so it was the right choice for me. 

Q) What motivated you to apply for the Summer Bursary Programme? 

This programme was a great chance to build scientific skills in a real research setting. I wanted to learn how to work in a lab, read scientific literature, collect information, and analyse results — all with support from someone experienced. I was especially lucky that my supervisor, Miryam, who is also my course advisor, supported me from the beginning. Her encouragement gave me the confidence to apply. 

Q) What are you doing as part of your research here at UL? 

My project is about adding brown seaweed (Laminaria digitata) to soda bread at different levels — 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%. We are testing the nutritional quality and using the INFOGEST in vitro digestion model to study how the bread is broken down in the body. We also measure antioxidant activity and explore seaweed could be used to replace salt in bread. Seaweed is a sustainable food resource, and since seaweed farming is growing in Ireland, this project has both scientific and environmental value. 

Q) what skills have you developed over the summer? 

This summer, I improved my lab skills — from preparing samples to running digestion tests and analysing the results. I also learned how to search databases, find reliable scientific papers, and work with research articles. Since I’ve just finished my first year, my skills were still quite basic. It really helped that Miryam, my supervisor, guided me through each step. 

Q) What has this experience taught you and what would you recommend it to others? 

This experience showed me how research works in real life, not just in theory. I feel more confident in the lab and more excited about science. I could already see links between what I studied in first year and now I’m looking forward to future modules. I’d definitely recommend it. It’s a great way to find out if research is something you enjoy, and it helps you understand science in action. 

Q) What are your future career plans, would you consider a career in research? 

Definitely. I really enjoyed doing experiments, asking questions, building hypotheses, finding information, and analysing results. This summer helped me see how interesting and creative research can be — and I would love to continue exploring it in the future. 

Follow this link to find out more about the BSc in Food Science and Health