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How to Build Your Career as a Food Scientist?

Food Scientist – the term itself must make you visualize people in white lab coats conducting fascinating experiments on the food we eat. Well, not necessarily in their stereotypical white lab coats, but food scientists indeed do a lot of interesting work. If you are wondering how to become a food scientist, we have the answer right from the horse’s mouth.

Humberto Ojeda Avila is a food science technician working at Garden Master in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA, and he shares with us what it takes to build a career as a food scientist. He also has some great tips for anyone who wants to have a future in the food science industry.

Get your qualifying degree

The first thing to becoming a food scientist is to get a professional degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Processing, Food Engineering, or a related field. A Bachelor’s Degree may be sufficient for certain entry-level positions. But Humberto Ojeda Avila says that a Master’s Degree or a Ph.D. may be necessary to climb the ladder in the food science industry and join administrative or managerial positions.

While your major in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs will help you secure a job in food science, a minor in subjects like Communication, Business Administration, or Marketing can be an added advantage.

Go for an internship

Having hands-on experience in a food manufacturing or research facility will be invaluable. It is a very good idea to go for an internship, paid or unpaid, while you’re studying. If you couldn’t manage an internship during your academic years, get one as soon as you complete the course. This experience will go a long way in getting you good job offers.

Know where to apply for jobs

When you are ready for a long-term career in food science, Humberto Ojeda Avila emphasizes that it’s important to know where to apply. A Food Scientist is usually needed in certain industries like Food Processing and Manufacturing, Food Research, Academics, Local/ State/ Federal/ International Food Standards and Food Safety Agencies, etc.

Decide which kind of industry you want to work in and do your research to find out relevant organizations and available positions in those organizations.

Get certified

Humberto Ojeda Avila says that certification is not mandatory for all jobs as a Food Scientist, but certain roles may require you to be certified by an authorized Council/ Association. This is particularly important for government work, say as a Food Safety Professional or a Quality Control official.

Certification from relevant bodies such as the American Society of Agronomy or the Institute of Food Technologists can open new doors for you in the future.

Summing up

Food science is a lucrative industry where new developments are taking place rapidly. A career as a Food Scientist can be very promising and Humberto Ojeda Avila vouches for it. As long as you have the direction, you can join Humberto and the likes, innovating the food industry.