Kara Robinson
Research Manager at Blueberry Marketing & Sensory Research- Claim this Profile
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Bio
David de Pasquale
August 1, 2011 Recommendation Letter for Kara Gustafson To whom it may concern: Kara Gustafson worked in my laboratory from November 1st, 2009 through her graduation in May, 2011 (B.S., Food Science, 2011). The Sensory Evaluation Center in the Food Science Department at Penn State is a busy, commercial laboratory that performs third party sensory evaluations for a variety objectives and in a broad array of product categories. This type of work requires attention to detail, organization, focus, and intensity while maintaining a grace under pressure. Kara’s work performance is outstanding. She is hard-working and takes on tasks with enthusiasm and dedication. She likes to solve problems and get to the bottom of things. Kara is a delightful coworker and a true peer-leader that has positively influenced the culture of my laboratory. In the Summer of 2010, Kara was selected for an internship and worked full time in the laboratory. During her 15 week rotation, she participated in hundreds of sensory tests. Kara has training in participant/consumer screening, protocol pretesting, ballot design, experimental design, analysis and client reporting. Kara is also Pennsylvania ServSafe Certified. Sincerely, Dr. David de Pasquale Managing Director Sensory Evaluation Center Pennsylvania State University Department of Food Science
David de Pasquale
August 1, 2011 Recommendation Letter for Kara Gustafson To whom it may concern: Kara Gustafson worked in my laboratory from November 1st, 2009 through her graduation in May, 2011 (B.S., Food Science, 2011). The Sensory Evaluation Center in the Food Science Department at Penn State is a busy, commercial laboratory that performs third party sensory evaluations for a variety objectives and in a broad array of product categories. This type of work requires attention to detail, organization, focus, and intensity while maintaining a grace under pressure. Kara’s work performance is outstanding. She is hard-working and takes on tasks with enthusiasm and dedication. She likes to solve problems and get to the bottom of things. Kara is a delightful coworker and a true peer-leader that has positively influenced the culture of my laboratory. In the Summer of 2010, Kara was selected for an internship and worked full time in the laboratory. During her 15 week rotation, she participated in hundreds of sensory tests. Kara has training in participant/consumer screening, protocol pretesting, ballot design, experimental design, analysis and client reporting. Kara is also Pennsylvania ServSafe Certified. Sincerely, Dr. David de Pasquale Managing Director Sensory Evaluation Center Pennsylvania State University Department of Food Science
David de Pasquale
August 1, 2011 Recommendation Letter for Kara Gustafson To whom it may concern: Kara Gustafson worked in my laboratory from November 1st, 2009 through her graduation in May, 2011 (B.S., Food Science, 2011). The Sensory Evaluation Center in the Food Science Department at Penn State is a busy, commercial laboratory that performs third party sensory evaluations for a variety objectives and in a broad array of product categories. This type of work requires attention to detail, organization, focus, and intensity while maintaining a grace under pressure. Kara’s work performance is outstanding. She is hard-working and takes on tasks with enthusiasm and dedication. She likes to solve problems and get to the bottom of things. Kara is a delightful coworker and a true peer-leader that has positively influenced the culture of my laboratory. In the Summer of 2010, Kara was selected for an internship and worked full time in the laboratory. During her 15 week rotation, she participated in hundreds of sensory tests. Kara has training in participant/consumer screening, protocol pretesting, ballot design, experimental design, analysis and client reporting. Kara is also Pennsylvania ServSafe Certified. Sincerely, Dr. David de Pasquale Managing Director Sensory Evaluation Center Pennsylvania State University Department of Food Science
David de Pasquale
August 1, 2011 Recommendation Letter for Kara Gustafson To whom it may concern: Kara Gustafson worked in my laboratory from November 1st, 2009 through her graduation in May, 2011 (B.S., Food Science, 2011). The Sensory Evaluation Center in the Food Science Department at Penn State is a busy, commercial laboratory that performs third party sensory evaluations for a variety objectives and in a broad array of product categories. This type of work requires attention to detail, organization, focus, and intensity while maintaining a grace under pressure. Kara’s work performance is outstanding. She is hard-working and takes on tasks with enthusiasm and dedication. She likes to solve problems and get to the bottom of things. Kara is a delightful coworker and a true peer-leader that has positively influenced the culture of my laboratory. In the Summer of 2010, Kara was selected for an internship and worked full time in the laboratory. During her 15 week rotation, she participated in hundreds of sensory tests. Kara has training in participant/consumer screening, protocol pretesting, ballot design, experimental design, analysis and client reporting. Kara is also Pennsylvania ServSafe Certified. Sincerely, Dr. David de Pasquale Managing Director Sensory Evaluation Center Pennsylvania State University Department of Food Science
Credentials
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Proficiency in Qualitative Research
Burke InstituteAug, 2015- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Blueberry Marketing & Sensory Research
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United States
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Market Research
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1 - 100 Employee
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Research Manager
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Apr 2021 - Present
Partner with clients across a wide range of categories to design and execute research tailored to their needs. Provide dynamic reports with clear messaging to guide product decisions. Partner with clients across a wide range of categories to design and execute research tailored to their needs. Provide dynamic reports with clear messaging to guide product decisions.
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Campbell's
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United States
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Food and Beverage Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Sensory Manager
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Mar 2018 - Apr 2021
Manage sensory work for the Salty Snacks portfolio including innovation projects, product renovations, cost savings initiatives, and competitive analysis. Manage sensory work for the Salty Snacks portfolio including innovation projects, product renovations, cost savings initiatives, and competitive analysis.
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Snyder's-Lance, Inc.
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United States
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Food and Beverage Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Sensory Lab Manager
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Mar 2017 - Apr 2018
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Sensory Scientist
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Mar 2015 - Mar 2017
Consult with internal and external customers to form a sensory testing plan to meet the testing objectives.Set up and run consumer panels.Moderate IDIs and focus groups.Analyze result data.Write reports and make recommendations.Build and develop a panel of gluten free product consumers. Screen, train, recruit, maintain, and lead a descriptive analysis panel.
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Sr. Sensory Technician
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Apr 2013 - Mar 2015
Build a panelist database consisting of Snyder's-Lance employees as well as community members.Write questionnaires in SIMS for discrimination and affective tests.Moderate IDIs and focus groups.Set up and run panels.Analyze result data.Write reports and make recommendations.Work with customers both internal and external to Snyder's-Lance on sensory projects.
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R&D Technician
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Sep 2011 - Apr 2013
Cultivated bench top development skills.Formulated new products on full scale production line.Communicated with suppliers on a regular basis.
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Research and Development Intern
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May 2011 - Sep 2011
Cultivated bench top development skills.Formulated a new product on full scale production line.Effectively managed multiple projects simultaneously.Performed research concerning acrylamide reduction in fried snack products.Communicated with suppliers on a regular basis.Shadowed QA and Regulatory
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Sensory Technician
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Jan 2009 - May 2011
Developed protocols for testing products that are new to the Center.Acted as project leader for various consumer tests.Analyzed data and wrote reports for customers of the Center.Familiarized with Compusense5 and Compusense5 Plus sensory analysis programs.Set up for and run various sensory analysis tests including affective, discrimination, and descriptive analyses.Train incoming laboratory assistants.
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Sensory Technician Intern
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May 2010 - Aug 2010
Involved with the sensory analysis process from gaining new customers to writing reports and making recommendations. Developed preparation protocols for testing new products. Wrote ballots on Compusense5 software. Analyzed results of hedonic and JAR questions. Performed competitive analysis, triangle, AFC, difference, and consumer testing.
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Education
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2007 - 2011
Penn State University
Bachelor of Science, Food Science -
2013 - 2016
Kansas State University
Master of Science (M.S.), Food Science
Community
