Jose and Yelena Barbosa are food scientists and storytellers who have spent their careers in the
 world behind the scenes, like labs, pilot plants, and conference rooms, where data often
 speaks louder than people. Their book, Beyond the Lab Coats, pulls back the curtain on what life
 in food science really looks like, and why the human story matters as much as the technical
 result.

 Beyond the Lab Coats is part behind-the-scenes career journey, part personal narrative, and part
 invitation. Told in two voices, the book blends both authors’ perspectives into one shared journey
 through food science, identity, and purpose. It explores identity, ambition, doubt, resilience, and
 the everyday moments that shape who we become, inside and outside our professional titles. The
 book begins with an honest truth many readers recognize: sometimes we start out aimless, doing
 the “right” things without always knowing why. Over time, experiences - wins, mistakes,
 mentors, setbacks, family, and hard choices begin to form something clearer.

 The inspiration for writing the book came from a simple truth the authors saw repeatedly: food
 scientists need to become better storytellers. In food science, brilliant work can stall when the
 story isn’t understood. Whether it’s a new product, a safety improvement, an ingredient change,
 or a breakthrough in process and quality. That’s why the Barbosas believe storytelling isn’t
 “extra,” it’s leadership. It’s how expertise becomes accessible, how teams align, and how
 progress actually moves.

 But there was a deeper motivation too: to give food scientists a voice. Food scientists help shape
 what the world eats, yet their work is often invisible, overshadowed by brands, trends, and
 headlines. Beyond the Lab Coats is a way to spotlight the people behind the product, and to
 celebrate the curiosity, care, and responsibility that come with the role.

 There was also a personal reason: no one can write your history but you. Over a career, people
 accumulate versions of themselves like job titles, reviews, and assumptions. Writing this book
 was a way to define their journey in their own words. And ultimately, the authors hope readers
 feel the biggest message of all: everyone’s story is worth telling. Beyond the Lab Coats is their
 way of saying, “We’re telling ours - will you tell us yours?”

 Beyond the Lab Coats is available online. The authors are grateful to Windham for creating space
 for local voices. Giving people a voice is what this book is all about. They believe that sharing
 our stories, especially the honest ones, can help others feel seen, understood, and a little more
 courageous about writing their own next chapter. In the end, beyond the lab coats isn’t a job title
 - its purpose.