Ph.D. in Food Science

Thrive in a Challenging Research Environment

Our Ph.D. program is geared toward individuals with B.S. or graduate degrees in related sciences who want an in-depth research experience.

Research areas include:

• Brewery and dairy fermentation
• Food ingredient functionality and rheology
• Genetics and beneficial effects of probiotic microbes and lactic acid bacteria on human health
• Molecular mechanisms of foodborne illness and detection of foodborne bacterial and viral pathogens
• Sensory and flavor chemistry of dairy and other ingredients
• Thermal and aseptic processing of foods

Our faculty are routinely recognized for their research achievements and teaching accomplishments. Under their mentoring, Ph.D. students publish in prestigious peer-reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences.

Alumni Spotlight

Trisha Bhatia earned her Ph.D. and is now a production and quality manager at Ripe Revival. “We seek to address the growing issue of food waste and food insecurity by creating ‘better-for-you’ health foods out of excess fruits and vegetables.”

Read about Trisha’s journey

Future Career Pathways

A Ph.D. in Food Science can prepare you for a career as a:

• Flavor chemist
• Food microbiologist
• Food chemist
• Food processing specialist
• Food engineer
• Sensory scientist

This degree program has prepared me, has given me the theoretical knowledge and understanding of food science, food chemistry, food packaging, flavor chemistry. So I apply those concepts as an entrepreneur but also as a product developer

Michael Lloyd

current student

Preparing the Professoriate

Preparing the Professoriate is a nationally recognized program designed to give exceptional doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars an immersive mentoring, teaching, and future faculty preparation experience.

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Fellowships and Grants

Fellowship, traineeships, and grants are awards that require no service in return. They may be based on merit and/or financial need. Often they provide the cost of tuition and fees plus a stipend to cover living expenses.

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