She’s a neuroscience student with a passion for behavior, sustainability, and real-
world impact. Meet Alexa Rios, whose curiosity and commitment are helping
shape smarter, greener food systems at Flash Grüb. 🌱🧠💡
What made you want to intern at
Flash Grub?
I was excited to intern at Flash Grüb because of its unique blend of sustainability, student leadership, and the energy of a fresh, growing start-up. As a neuroscience major with interests in consumer behavior and user experience, I wanted to expand my skill set beyond the lab and learn how to build solutions that drive real-world change, especially in ways that connect health, behavior, and sustainability.
What’s one thing you’ve learned at Flash Grüb that surprised you?
I’ve learned how much collaboration and connection it takes to bring a vision to life. Building something impactful requires not only ideas but also the courage to put yourself out there, ask for help, and engage with others across different fields and backgrounds.
What does reducing waste and food sustainability mean to you personally?
Food sustainability is deeply important to me not only because reducing food waste helps lower harmful carbon emissions, but also because it can directly address food insecurity, which affects so many communities. On college campuses, especially, I’ve seen how much good food goes unused. Working toward more mindful, sustainable food practices feels essential for both environmental health and social equity.
How does working on FG fit into your Columbia journey or goals?
At Columbia, I’ve been driven to explore how science can contribute to broader societal well-being, not just through research, but through action and communication. Flash Grüb has given me the chance to grow my skills in sustainability and teamwork while also understanding how people think, choose, and behave around food systems. This experience bridges my interests in neuroscience, public health, and the environment, helping me think bigger about my future impact.
In one word, how would you describe Flash Grüb?
Scrappy.