Apply the principles of science and engineering to ensure the quantity, quality, variety, attractiveness, and safety of foods. 

Within the areas of food chemistry and sensory science, we're studying flavor chemistry, manipulation of storage components, food safety and toxicology, structure-function behavior, and chemical stability of foods.

If you are interested in food microbiology, you may like to study with faculty members whose research addresses genetic and physiological manipulation of bacteria, growth conditions and their effects on microbes, and fermentation.

Chemical/microbial food safety researchers look into safety, production, and preservation and relations to human health.

If you are interested in food processing and engineering can benefit from studying with faculty members researching topics including the effects of thermal processing on fats and oils, bioprocessing, state-of-the-art novel processing technologies, heat and mass transfer analysis, rheology, the use of acoustic ultrasound in processing, production systems modeling and optimization, and development of bio-based, biodegradable resins, and plastics.

In-residence students selecting to focus on food science for their graduate education can pursue thesis or non-thesis M.S. and Ph.D. programs.

Course descriptions

Student measuring with analytical equipment in lab.
Student measuring with analytical equipment in lab.
Body

Research Areas

You have the opportunity to study a wide-variety of research areas related to food science, including these general focal areas of strength:

  • food chemistry 
  • sensory science
  • food microbiology
  • chemical/microbial food safety
  • food processing and engineering

The Food Science MS and PHD is a STEM-designated program.

Choosing a faculty advisor

Review the list of faculty members and their research areas to select your faculty advisor. You must have a faculty member willing to train them and serve as their major professor before they can be accepted.

Associate Head for Graduate Programs

Michael Miller

217-244-1973
mille216@illinois.edu

Mike Miller