Area
Employer
Information/Strategies
Business and Technology
- Quality Assurance
- Food Safety
- Quality Inspection
- Process Inspection
- Production Management
- Sensory Evaluation/Analysis
- Applied Food Research
- Preserving
- Processing
- Packaging
- Storing
- Delivering
- Sales
- Marketing
- Distribution
- Consumer Education
- Food processing plants
- Food manufacturing plants
- Food ingredient suppliers
- Food equipment suppliers
- Container manufacturers
- Large retail chains, e.g. Starbucks, Target
- Consumer product companies
- Test kitchens/food laboratories
- Feed companies
- Dairy, beef, or hog farms
- Federal government including:
- Food and Drug Administration
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Defense
- State government agencies
- Earn a minor in business or agribusiness. Take courses in statistics.
- Become adept using computers.
- 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 development.
Science
- Basic Research
- Food Microbiology
- Food Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Product Development
- Food Engineering
- Food Safety
- Quality Inspection
- Quality Assurance
- Process Inspection
- Federal government including:
- Food and Drug Administration
- Department of Agriculture
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Defense
- State government agencies
- Food processing plants
- Food manufacturing plants
- Food ingredient suppliers
- Food equipment suppliers
- Consumer product companies
- Quality-control laboratories
- Test kitchens/food laboratories
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Universities and colleges
- Nonprofit research organizations, e.g. NSF International
- Obtain a graduate degree to reach higher levels of research and administration. Maintain a good GPA and secure strong faculty recommendations to prepare for graduate school.
- Gain related experience through internships.
- Assist a professor with research to gain laboratory and technical skills.
- Take additional courses in the sciences.
- Become highly detail oriented.
- Participate in research paper competitions or summer research programs sponsored by professional associations or government agencies.
- Join the Institute of Food Technologists to learn more about the field and for networking opportunities.
Pre-Professional/Healthcare
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Dentistry
- Veterinary Sciences
- Other Healthcare Fields
- 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
- 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 and take prerequisite classes.
- Maintain a high GPA and prepare for required entrance exams.
- Secure strong personal recommendations from faculty.
- Seek research experience and participate in undergraduate research competitions.
- Gain exposure to field of interest through volunteering, part-time or summer jobs, or internships.
- Shadow a pharmacist, dentist, physician, etc. to learn more about the occupation.
- Research accredited institutions. Check graduation rates, passing rates on licensing exams, cost, etc. Speak with current students if possible.
- 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.