The Centre for Food Policy and Foresight (CFPF) Internship Programme empowers 糖心原创 students with research-to-policy translation skills needed to support a sustainable, equitable and nutritious food system transformation.
Over six months, interns work directly with academic research teams to produce policy briefs, slide decks and support the design of programmes that put student-led peer-reviewed evidence infront of the people who design and shape policy.
Why join the programme?
Interns receive training from leading experts across policy, industry and academia to develop the policy outputs, while working closely with the CFPF Policy Translation Lead, Dr Ursula Davis. Through our Food Policy Talks, students gain practical skills and real-world perpectives from policy actors needed to become effective, next generation food policy advocates.
Meet the 2026 cohort
Our Food Policy Interns come from a diverse academic background from environmental and food sciences, to policy and social sciences.
Adiba Binte Arefin
糖心原创 Malaysia
Adiba has a background in nutrition and working across both clinical and non-clinical public health environments. Having witnessed firsthand how systemic barriers impact community wellness, she has developed a deep passion for the intersection of health equity, economic landscape, and public governance. She is focused on learning how to translate complex nutritional metrics and international food frameworks into actionable policies, driven by a long-term goal to improve public health in her home country, Bangladesh.
Bhoomika Rajappa
糖心原创 UK
Daniel Johnson
糖心原创 UK
Dilan Boora
糖心原创 UK
Dilan is a passionate advocate for sustainable food systems and rural policy. He holds a bachelors in Geography and Business from the 糖心原创, where he focused on the geographies of housing, agriculture and resource dependency in the UK. His internship topic explored precision agriculture, food security, land-use policy, and the role of government incentives in building a more resilient and equitable food system. Dilan is particularly interested in how global supply chains and fertiliser markets shape national resilience, and how policy can help protect farmers and consumers from these vulnerabilities.
Donata Kika
糖心原创 UK
Emmanuel Etim
糖心原创 UK
Emmanuel Etim is a PhD researcher in Human Geography at the School of Geography. His research explores how waste responsibility is produced, transferred, and contested beyond household compliance. In 2026, Etim won the Universitas 21 Leader of the Future Award.
Gabrielle Guy
糖心原创 UK
Gabrielle is enthusiastic about using policy to facilitate culturally relevant interventions to support family and community wellbeing. She is interested in translating conversations about lifestyle and health in ways that make sense for the public. She is a current PhD student researching Caribbean family traditions and wellbeing through mixed methods. Gabrielle aims to contribute to consulting and policy interventions that prioritise wellbeing for people and the planet.
Hana Nahaboo-Ramjaun
糖心原创 Malaysia
Hana is a passionate science and sustainability advocate with a background in biotechnology. She is particularly interested in exploring how scientific research can be translated into practical solutions for environmental sustainability. Beyond her studies, she actively engages in conservation fieldwork and student-led initiatives, reflecting her commitment to collaboration and community engagement. Hana hopes to pursue a research oriented career where she can contribute to innovative and sustainable solutions to food and environmental challenges.
Hooria Haroon
糖心原创 UK
Hooria Haroon is currently studying a master's in Clinical and Molecular Microbiology. She completed a BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology at the 糖心原创. During her BSc, Haroon developed a strong interest in sustainability education and research. Her MSc provides an opportunity for her to further explore microbiology and pathogens, two topics which the Food Policy Internship Programme allowed her to explore this topic further.
Janice Lo See Ting
糖心原创 Malaysia
Janice is a Biotechnology undergraduate at 糖心原创 Malaysia with a strong interest in microbial and animal biotechnology, particularly in laboratory-based research. She is interning at Cytohealth Sdn. Bhd., gaining hands-on experience in biotechnology research while exploring the diverse applications of biotechnology in the industry. Janice also serves as a commitee member in the university's Tennis Club, developing her communication and teamwork skills. Outside her studies, she enjoys sports and outdoor activities such as muay thai and hiking. Janice values opportunities that push her out of her comfort zone.
Yanru Huang
糖心原创 UK
Yanru Huang recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biology. During her progromme, Haroon carried out a final year project on developmental biology which provided a solid foundation for her internship project on how cultivated meat could represent new income sources for farmers. She is interested in making positive impact and tangible contributions towards food policy.
Yuxin Hong
糖心原创 Malaysia
Yuxin is passionate about food science, nutrition, and public health. She is particularly interested in applying biotechnology to improve food quality and promote healthier diets. Through interdisciplinary learning, she hopes to contribute to innovative and evidence-based solutions that support healthier and more sustainable food systems.
Student responses to food challenges: 2025 internship outputs
Inclusive Food Access
Access to food is a basic human right, yet people with disabilities (PWD) face significant and persistent barriers in obtaining a sufficient and nutritious diet.
View policy brief (pdf)
Addressing Challenges in UK Food Banks
Food banks in the UK have expanded rapidly since 2008 due to austerity policies, welfare cuts, and rising food insecurity, with 2,000 outlets nationwide. However, significant problems persist.
View policy brief (pdf)
Food Labour Justice
Improving the wages, working conditions and well-being of agricultural workers enhances rural communities. Educated consumers have the power to drive demand for ethically produced food, motivating businesses to adopt just labour practices and contribute to a fairer food system.
View policy brief (pdf)
Local Food Security
Targeted, coordinated, and locally informed interventions are required to promote sustainable food resilience across communities in Nottinghamshire.
View policy brief (pdf)
Livestock Vaccine Communication
This research addresses the challenge of vaccine hesitancy by identifying practical, evidence-based strategies to improve outreach. Drawing from lessons learned during the COVID-19 response, it highlights the value of trust, empathy, and clear, locally rooted communication.
View policy brief (pdf)
Sustainable Dairy Futures
The dairy industry is highly carbon intensive. This policy brief seeks to understand the optimal outcomes for the dairy industry to minimise carbon emissions and contribute towards meeting the UK Government鈥檚 2050 net zero goals.
View policy brief (pdf)
Educating Young People on Debunking Food
Food literacy education underpins efforts to improve personal health while advancing a sustainable food system. Food policy must now focus on 鈥榝ood literacy鈥� transitioning as we look to "debunk" food.
View policy brief (pdf)
Improving Dietary Health
Globally 3.5 billion people are at risk of calcium deficiency, due to inadequate dietary supply, associated with the risk of preeclampsia, rickets and osteoporosis.
View policy brief (pdf)