Former student in Feed Manufacturing technology 2 - Damir Tesla
Megumi Ohta FogDamir Tesla works as process developer at Agrimarin Nutrition AS et Felleskjøpet Rogaland (Norway)
Education from UMB:
I finished Master in Feed Technology in 2005 on a topic "Pelleting and expander-pelleting of a whole barley for ruminants. Influence on physical and nutritional quality of compound feed"
What is the name of your position at Felleskjøpet and what are you doing in your job?
My first position in FKRA (Felleskjøpet Rogaland Agder) in Stavanger was as a production consultant where my job was to improve all aspects in terms of production (both quality and quantity). After two years on that position I had applied on a position Research and Development Engineer of a Process Technology in a daughter company of FKRA, called Agrimarin Nutrition AS. That company is producing high concentrate protein, starch and fibre, all in a wide range of concentrations depends on customer needs, obtained mainly from peas. My work is directly correlated with improving of existing process technology, both in terms of quality and quantity, finding new prospective solutions for future, etc.
In what way was the education of relevance for your job?
In my case was directly linked with my job. Actually, after first year of Master program I have accepted a summer praxis previously arranged by employees at UMB. I have stayed on a praxis almost a whole summer where get an opportunity to work in different aspects of production. Based on that work I've been invited next year, as well. After that, I've got an offer to work in different projects for 1-2 years. And finally, two years of experience encouraged me to apply on an existing position that I am right now.
What can you say about your study at UMB and the student environment?
As a place from which we are getting final education and going further, of course I can say nice things. The approach and quality of education itself has another dimension comparing from my experience that I am bringing from home country. About study environment, I could also say only positive things. There, I could for a first time met so many different people from all over the world and through that experience learn a lot both about other people and myself, as well.
Any advice for aspiring students?
That kind of advice could be always useful but there is no one general pattern which they should follow. They should mainly have a focus on education and the best results from that, while on that way they should start to ask questions to themselves, what they would like to work after finished education. Upon that, they could go in that direction by finding acceptable position correlated with their needs and education. An good example, was recently organized "Carrier days" at UMB. I've heard that was more than 55 different companies in all sectors. That is a good starting point, definitively. On those days, people are mainly not getting jobs, some of them yes, but what is the most important is, that they are getting a general impression how it looks like when you are applying for different jobs, what are the demands from different companies so they could in the nearest future prepare themselves.
damir.tesla@fkra.noTlf: +4790083871
Updated: 15.01.10
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