Area
Employer
Information/Strategies
Area:
Business and Technology
Sub-Area:
- Quality Assurance
- Food Safety
- Quality Inspection
- Process Inspection
- Production Management
- New Food/Flavor Chemistry
- Sensory Evaluation
- Applied Food Research
- Preserving
- Processing
- Packaging
- Storing
- Delivering
- Sales
- Marketing
- Consumer Education
Employers:
- Food processing plants
- Food manufacturing plants
- Food ingredient suppliers
- Food equipment suppliers
- Container manufacturers
- Large retail chains, e.g. Starbucks, Target
- Feed companies
- Dairy, beef, or hog farms
- Federal government including:
- Food and Drug Administration
- Department of Agriculture
- State governments
Strategies & Information:
- Earn a minor in business or agribusiness.
- Become adept using computers.
- Take courses in statistics.
- Gain relevant experience through internships.
- Participate in student professional organizations and seek leadership roles.
- Compete on a meat or dairy products judging team.
- Join the Institute of Food Technologists to learn more about the field and for networking opportunities.
- Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills. Learn to work well in a team.
- Earn a graduate degree for advanced opportunities in research or management.
- Demonstrate creativity and curiosity for positions in product or flavor development.
Area:
Science
Sub-Area:
- Basic Research
- Food Microbiology/Food Chemistry
- Product Development
- Food Engineering
- Food Safety
- Quality Inspection
- Quality Assurance
- Process Inspection
Employers:
- Federal government including:
- Food and Drug Administration
- Department of Agriculture
- Environmental Protection Agency
- State governments
- Food processing plants
- Food manufacturing plants
- Food ingredient suppliers
- Food equipment suppliers
- Quality-control laboratories
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Universities and colleges
Strategies & Information:
- Join the Institute of Food Technologists to learn more about the field and for networking opportunities.
- Gain related experience through internships.
- Assist a professor with research to gain laboratory experience.
- Take additional courses in the sciences.
- Become highly detail oriented.
- Participate in research paper competitions sponsored by professional associations.
- Research apprentice membership in the Society of Flavor Chemists if that is an area of interest.
- Obtain a graduate degree to reach higher levels of research and administration. A doctoral degree is required for university teaching.
Area:
Pre-Professional
Sub-Area:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Dentistry
- Veterinary Sciences
- Other Healthcare Fields
Employers:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Private or group practice
- Health networks
- Nursing homes
- Rehabilitation centers
- Mental health institutions
- Federal, state, & local health departments
- Government agencies
- Armed services
- Correctional facilities
- Colleges and universities
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Retail pharmacy chains
- Research laboratories
- Animal food companies
- Zoos
Strategies & Information:
- Food science is good preparation for professional graduate programs in pharmacy, veterinary science, dentistry, or medicine because of the strong science background that is developed.
- Research admissions requirements for individual programs.
- Maintain a high grade point average and prepare for required entrance exams.
- Secure strong personal recommendations from faculty.
- Gain exposure to field of interest through volunteering, part-time and summer jobs, or internships.
- Research accredited institutions. Check graduation rates, success rates on licensing exams, cost, location, etc. If possible, speak with current students.
- Develop back-up career plans in case admission is denied.
General Information and Strategies
- The food processing industry is one of the largest in the US and throughout the world, so many opportunities exist for students trained in food science.
- A bachelor’s degree is sufficient for some opportunities in applied research and in food processing. Earn a master’s or doctoral degree to conduct basic research. The PhD. is required for university teaching.
- A high percentage of food scientists work for local, state or federal government. Learn government application procedures.
- Learn to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Develop strong communication skills both written and oral. Also develop analytical skills and an attention to detail.
- Join professional associations and student organizations to stay abreast of current issues in the field and to develop networking contacts. Get involved with the Institute of Food Technologists.
- Talk to professionals already in your desired field regarding their backgrounds. Arrange a shadowing experience.