Master of Science in Food Science
- Fall January 10
- Spring July 1
- Pullman: Yes
- GRE
Degree Description:
The School of Food Science offers graduate programs leading to doctoral and master of science degrees. Washington State University (WSU) and University of Idaho (UI) merged faculty and programs to become the School of Food Science (SFS). This is the first program in the nation to share teaching, research, extension programs, faculty, and resources between two states and two universities. Food Science is a multidisciplinary science that applies biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, nutrition, and other sciences to improve the safety and quality of food products; develop new food products; and design new, safer, and more energy-efficient food preservation methods. Curriculum emphasizes courses in food processing, food chemistry, food microbiology, sensory evaluation, and other specialized areas. Examples include the processing and manufacturing of cereal, dairy, fruit, and vegetable products; including cheeses, wines, and potatoes. Departmental faculty and adjunct/affiliate faculty may all serve as student advisors. Faculty are housed at WSU and UI campuses, the WSU Tri-Cities campus, and the research station in Prosser, WA. Each student’s program of study is individualized based on their research interests, prior academic experience, and collaboration with their major advisor.
Admission Requirements:
Application materials due by the deadline: official transcripts, resume, statement of purpose, 3 letters of recommendation, GRE, and TOEFL if applicable. Complete undergraduate preparation courses in chemistry, biological science, and one course each in calculus, nutrition, and physics.
Student Learning Outcomes:
All graduates will be able to:
- Graduate students learn to conduct innovative and high quality research to solve emerging problems in food science by:
- Demonstrating a fundamental understanding of food science knowledge and principles.
- Applying scientific knowledge to assess and solve food science problems.
- Exhibiting communication skills to convey technical information and defend scientific findings.
- Designing and conducting research experiments and analyzing research findings.
- Graduate students gain professional and leadership skills for professional positions in food and allied industries, government, or academia by:
- Presenting research to local, regional, and national audiences through publications and presentations.
- Participating in professional organizations and related activities.
- Obtaining successful placement in relevant industry, government, or academia positions.
Student Opportunities:
Students gain research experience and leadership skills at the SFS facilities housed on the WSU and UI campuses that includes: research level chemistry, microbiology, and engineering laboratories; the WSU Creamery where on-going research on ice cream and cheese occurs, including the world renowned ‘Cougar Gold’ cheese; a contemporary sensory evaluation facility where aroma, flavor and taste panels are conducted, and a processing pilot plant where small-scale equipment allows for applied research. Off-campus facilities include the Food Technology Center in Caldwell, ID., and the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, WA., in the heart of the Northwest’s expanding wine and food processing industries.
Career Opportunities:
Food science graduates begin careers in food research and development, food quality assurance, food safety microbiology, production management, regulatory affairs, or research in the food/allied industries or federal/state regulatory agencies.
Career Placements:
Gallo Wines, ConAgra Foods, Givaudan Flavors, Leprino Foods, Heinz Foods USA, TIC Gums, General Mills, Safeway, McCain Foods USA, Bolthouse Farms, Michelson Laboratories, Ecolab, Weichuan USA, Schwann’s, Darigold, Wilcox Farms, Ventura Food, Trident Seafoods, Disney Consumer Products, Idaho Pacific Corp., Nestle Nutrition, Heinz North America, Cargill, and J.R. Simplot. Attend University for Ph.D.degree.
Faculty Members:
Bohach, Carolyn, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
My laboratory works on the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), which include the infamous O157:H7 serotype. Ingestion of these pathogenic bacteria can cause bloody diarrhea and the life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome. Healthy cattle are a reservoir for these pathogens and contaminated foods of bovine origin are most often implicated in human disease.
Collins, Tom, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
wine research
Critzer, Faith, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Preharvest and postharvest produce safety.
Du, Min, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Our research is focused on the development of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Specifically, we are interested in exploring epigenetic mechanisms regulating the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into myocytes and adipocytes. Our studies have applications to both animal agriculture and human health.
Edwards, Charles, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Our research focuses on problem alcoholic fermentations and spoilage microorganisms of concern to winemakers.
Ganjyal, Girish, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Food processing, extrusion, frying, food ingredient technology, physico-chemical changes in food ingredients during processing, food structures, food product development and value-addition of food processing by-products.
Harbertson, James, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
My laboratory works on grape (Vitis vinifera) and wine composition. We primarily focus on phenolic compounds in grapes and wine and their biochemical and chemical changes during ripening, winemaking and aging. Phenolic compounds are important to wine, for their influence on sensorial aspects including bitterness, astringency, color, and aroma. Phenolics are also important for their influence on the preservation of wine and health related aspects.
Henick-Kling, Thomas, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Joyner, Helen, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Food rheology and tribology to evaluate mechanical and frictional properties of foods. Emphasis on developing links between rheological, tribological, and sensory behaviors of foods.
MIchael, Minto, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
My research focus is on applied food microbiology with emphasis on food safety and dairy microbiology.
Minnich, Scott A., Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
The major focus of research in my laboratory is centered on bacterial pathogenesis of Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pestis, etiologic agents of yersiniosis and bubonic plague respectively.
Moller, Greg, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, biogeochemistry of As, Se, and P, water quality, food safety.
Ross, Carolyn, Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
1) the influence of agronomic and environmental conditions on the chemical and sensory profiles of foods and wines; 2) the application of innovative analytical and sensory techniques to increase understanding of fundamental physical and chemical properties of food and wine quality; and 3) the enhancement of food quality through studies of consumer perception.
Ryu, Dojin, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Chemical food safety with emphasis on naturally occurring toxicants including mycotoxins and their chemical/toxicological fate during food processing, integrated approach for food safety.
Sablani, Shyam
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Smith, Brennan, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Currently, my focus is on the creation of new food technologies and undergraduate education.
Smith, Stephanie
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Tang, Juming, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Food Engineering
Microwave and radio frequency heating and drying.
Heat and Mass Transfer in food processing.
Engineering properties of food materials.
Dehydration of fruits and vegetables.
Unlu, Gulhan, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Food microbiology, biotechnology, microbial food safety/food biopreservation, genomics of food borne bacteria, conversion of food and agricultural waste to value-added products.
Vixie, Kevin, Ph.D.
Serves as: co-chair or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Geometric analysis and geometric measure theory, geometry and analysis in high dimensions, and data science. Examples include data driven advances in geometric measure theory, image analysis, regularity of minimizers, geometric analysis in metric measure spaces and graphs
Zhu, Jeijun (Meijun), Ph.D.
Serves as: chair, co-chair, or member of graduate committee
Research Interests
Our research interests center on microbiological food safety and preventive effects of food and bioactive compounds on gut microbiota and chronic diseases: 1) Examine dietary factors such as high fat diet, plant origin foods and bioactive food components on gut health and related metabolic diseases. We use both in vivo mice models and in vitro cell culture and tissue culture to examine the intricate interaction among nutrients, microorganisms, and gut epithelial health. 2) Seek to inactivate, intervene and detect foodborne pathogens in foods and food production environments, and further explore their applications in the food industries; we also explore molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses in foodborne pathogens, and foodborne enteric pathogen and host interaction. We use analytic chemical, biochemical and molecular techniques as well as traditional microbiological techniques for our studies.