Food Scientists & Technologists
Also called: Food Scientist, Food Technologist, Research Food Technologist, Seafood Technology Specialist,
What they do:
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.On the job, you would:
- Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
- Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
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What they do:
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.On the job, you would:
- Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
- Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
KNOWLEDGE
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
- manufacture and distribution of products
- food production
Math and Science
- chemistry
- biology
Arts and Humanities
- English language
Engineering and Technology
- product and service development
SKILLS
Basic Skills
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- reading work related information
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
- thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
- figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
ABILITIES
Verbal
- listen and understand what people say
- read and understand what is written
Ideas and Logic
- make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
- notice when problems happen
Math
- add, subtract, multiply, or divide
- choose the right type of math to solve a problem
Attention
- pay attention to something without being distracted
PERSONALITY
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Integrity
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Analytical Thinking
- Cooperation
- Achievement/Effort
TECHNOLOGY
You might use software like this on the job:
Analytical or scientific software
- BioDiscovery ImaGene
- Insightful S-PLUS
Data base user interface and query software
- PathogenTracker
- U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA National Nutrient Database
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
EDUCATION
- bachelor's degree
- master's degree
JOB OUTLOOK
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
$68,970
$40,360
$124,660