Member Spotlight: Meet Sampson Anankanbil
Member Spotlight is a regular INFORM magazine column that features members who play critical roles in AOCS.
| Name | Sampson Anankanbil |
| Joined AOCS | 2017 |
| Education | MSc and PhD from Aarhus University (Aarhus, Denmark) |
| Job title | Scientist |
| Employer | International Flavors and Fragrances, Brabrand, Denmark |
| AOCS involvement | AOCS mixers, EAT Division newsletters, online session participant |
Professional
What’s a typical day like for you?
Variable! Some lab experiments, a couple of hot chocolate drinks to warm up in cold Danish weather, data analysis, reporting, lunch with colleagues. And then back home to my wife Anne and year-old daughter Sofie Ayaali.
My favorite part of my job is…
Hands-on experimentation and data analysis. I just like getting my hands dirty!
Flash back to when you were 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a contractor. I did not really know what that meant, but it was something like winning big contracts to construct roads and highways. I can say what I do now is quite a deviation from that dream, but it is all science. Mega-structures or small molecules like lipids, emulsifiers, hydrocolloids, and the like, are all made up of building blocks that can be assembled.
Why did you decide to do the work you are doing now?
Simply out of curiosity—by always wanting to understand ingredients on food labels, how they are made, and how they work in food products.
Is there an achievement or contribution you are most proud of? Why?
Oh, yes! Winning a hat trick of AOCS awards in 2019 (Honored Student Award, the Peter & Clare Kalustian Award, and a Best Paper Award for the Phospholipid Division) at the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo was very fulfilling.
What event, person, or life experience has had the most influence on the direction of your life?
Moving to Denmark from Ghana to do an MSc in molecular nutrition and food technology changed the course of my life. Now I have been in Denmark for eight years, and I am working in Denmark and am married to a Dane, with a daughter. I could not have imagined these events 10 years ago.
Personal
How do you relax after a hard day of work?
I used to binge my favorite series on Netflix or watch soccer. But these activities are being gradually replaced by play time with my daughter.
What is the most impressive thing you know how to do?
Kickboxing. Not many scientists can do combat sport.
What skill would you like to master?
Juggling five items. It always looks cool and crazy.
What are some small things that make your day better?
Appreciating small steps taken and achievements gained. Remembering to drink water and eat well. Listening to at least one favorite song a day.
What are you looking forward to in the coming months or years?
Putting COVID-19 behind us, buying and renovating a house, and a wedding in 2023 in Ghana. So, lots of plans and exciting things are ahead!
