Food Science Research and Study Opportunities

Thousands of study and academic opportunities in Food Science are available internationally. Conferences and summer schools in Food Science are organized regularly in the best academic centers of the world. The majority of universities and many foundations also offer BA, MA, and Ph.D. programs in Food Science as wells as postdoctoral research grants, awards, and fellowships. Below you will find the updated list of international opportunities available in Food Science.

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What is Food Science as a Discipline?

Food science is a relatively new discipline, which emerged from the food industry changes mainly in North America. 

Before, food products involved primary food elements meant for the final preparation at home. In recent years, the significant shift in the food products demand also modified the market offered products. Current customers demand already prepared or easily and quickly prepared food. Therefore, the food market is enriched with refined and sophisticated products, which are often ready for people's final consumption without any cooking process. 

The chain effect of the new type of products brought new professions' demand, conducting proper quality control over the food production and preservation. Especially with the high level of society reliance on prepared food, such professionals' responsibility significantly increased. 

As followed from the above introduction, food science is a discipline exploring the chemistry of food components and their reactions during the stages of production and storage. It is a mixture of chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, microbiology, and engineering. 

What Academic and Career Perspectives do You have as a Food Science Specialist?

The food science graduates' general role is to provide the population with safe, healthy, sustainable, and tasty foods. However, not all degree graduates can occupy the responsible high-level roles of food scientist or food technician. Those positions require a certain deepness of expertise, such as postgraduate degrees and extra qualifications.

The above links to academic opportunities in food science will lead you to discover all the academic degrees in the field. To have any food industry-related profession, a bachelor's degree in food science is a must. 

An undergraduate degree in food science will typically give you knowledge over the following areas:

  • Food processing
  • Food engineering
  • Food analysis
  • Food chemistry
  • Food microbiology
  • Nutrition
  • Quality assurance

As a result, you can start your internship or develop an early-stage career in food manufacturing, producing or retail companies, healthcare organizations, etc. The list of some of the food science graduate positions include:

  1. Food market researcher
  2. Scientific laboratory technician
  3. Food sales representative
  4. Food policy analyst
  5. Quality assurance manager
  6. Food packaging specialist

You can also use your food science knowledge to become a specialist in fields like food blogging, chef, and procurement manager in food manufacturing companies.

Food science graduates with postgraduate teaching qualifications can also start a teaching career in schools or colleges. As another option, they can run cooking workshops and classes for an adult auditory. 

As the next step of your food science academic path, you may benefit from plenty of Master's and Ph.D. degree programs, some of which are mentioned in the list above. With a higher degree in the discipline, you can occupy the positions of nutritionist and dietician, and enter the field of toxicology. 

There is also a perspective for becoming an animal nutrition specialist, with the responsibility to refine recipes for pet food. 

In the following list, find the most popular masters degree subjects:

  • Food Science
  • Food Science Technology
  • Advanced Dietetic Practice
  • Food Security and Development
  • Food Policy and Nutrition

Becoming a food scientist is beneficial not only for your academic perspectives but also for your and your loved ones' health concerns. Food science can be described as one of the most needed disciplines for public health, and we hope this article will help you take a step closer to it.