Food Scientists and Technologists

Food Scientists and Technologists

Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

Key Competencies * Integrity * Attention to Detail * Dependability * Analytical Thinking * Cooperation * Achievement/Effort * Initiative * Adaptability/Flexibility * Innovation * Persistence

Representative Tasks * Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value. * Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience. * Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.

Industry

Manufacturing, Professional Scientific & Technical Services, Management of Companies & Enterprises,

Job Family Life, Physical, and Social Science

Sample Job Titles Associate Professor, Compliance Coordinator, Confectionery Laboratory Manager, Dairy Bacteriologist, Enologist, Food and Drug Research Scientist, Food Chemist, Food Preservation Scientist, Food Processing Scientist, Food Safety Director, Food Safety Scientist, Food Science Professor, Food Scientist, Food Technologist, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Coordinator (HACCP Coordinator), Hybrid Corn Breeder, Hybrid Technologist, Laboratory Manager (Lab Manager), Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician), Microbiologist, Process Engineer, Product Development Manager, Product Development Scientist, Professor, Professor of Food Biochemistry, Quality Assurance Director (QA Director), Quality Assurance Manager (QA Manager), Quality Control Inspector (QC Inspector), Quality Control Scientist (QC Scientist), Research and Development Director (R & D Director), Research and Development Manager (R & D Manager), Research Chef, Research Food Technologist, Research Scientist, Research Technician, Seafood Technology Specialist, Swine Nutritionist, Swine Technician, Technical Director, Value Analysis Coordinator.