Before deciding whether or not to pursue a career as a food scientist, it is necessary to understand what a food scientist does. Food scientists work to develop and raise the standards for food products in general. They apply what they’ve learned in school to improve how food is preserved, processed, stored, packaged, and delivered. A food scientist may work in the research sector, analyzing the vitamin, mineral, and chemical composition of food, or even discovering or developing new foods. At other times, she will work to enforce and uphold government regulations, inspecting food processing areas to ensure that the highest levels of quality and safety are met.
Once a person has decided to pursue a career as a food scientist, she should think about what kind of education and training she will require. Typically, the level of education she receives is determined the type of job she desires. If the job involves developing a product or assisting others in research projects, a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science, for example, may be sufficient. A master’s degree or a doctorate will likely be required for someone who wants to complete her own research projects or supervise others in applied research. Furthermore, a doctoral degree is required if one wishes to teach food science at the college level.
Again, depending on the type of job a food scientist seeks, she may be able to obtain a degree in another field, such as biology, physics, engineering, or chemistry, and still be qualified for a position in this field. Although many colleges and universities offer courses that prepare students for a general agricultural science degree, those interested in working in food science may need to look for a college or university that offers specialized food science courses. Food chemistry, food microbiology, food analysis, and food engineering, for example, are important areas of study for those interested in pursuing a career as a food scientist.
However, it is always a good idea to take a variety of courses in case another job in the agricultural science sector, such as one involving soil science, animal science, or plant science, becomes available. A person pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree should expect to complete some fieldwork, laboratory research, and possibly a thesis or paper based on her independent research.
For someone who wants to work as a food scientist, the ability to work both as part of a larger team and independently is essential. Great communication skills, as well as an understanding of statistics and business principles, are beneficial in this field. Overall, it has the potential to be a rewarding and fascinating career path.