Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health (IIT IFSH) has launched a new academic unit, the Department of Food Science and Nutrition. The department is housed within IIT School of Applied Technology.

Originally started in 1999, the IFSH graduate education program has grown to more than 150 students in 2013. As a result of this tremendous growth, IIT IFSH has established the Department of Food Science and Nutrition under IIT School of Applied Technology. The establishment of this new academic department ensures that the program can fully avail itself of all IIT’s academic resources, and also continue to capitalize on the strengths of IFSH’s collaborative research with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and member companies.

“The newly formed Department of Food Science and Nutrition has been designed to provide full-time students and working professionals with skills they need to succeed in food science and management positions in both the private and public sector”, says Professor Robert E. Brackett, interim head of the department, director of IFSH, and a vice president of IIT.

The graduate program offers food science master’s degrees and certificates in food safety, food technology and food process engineering. Students may attend classes part-time or full-time, selecting thesis or non-thesis options. Students may attend classes on campus during the day, online or during the evening and on weekends. The Department of Food Science and Nutrition also offers a seminar series open to students, members and industry professionals.

“The faculty for the Department of Food Science and Nutrition are drawn from world-class IIT, FDA, and industry scientists. Students have the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at IFSH under the supervision of IIT faculty and FDA scientists, and interacting with over 60 member companies affiliated with IFSH,” adds Brackett.

IIT IFSH is a one-of-a-kind applied food research institute that provides stakeholders in government, industry and academia the opportunity to develop and exchange knowledge and expertise to address key issues in food safety, food defense and nutrition. Powered by a singular combination of in-depth food science expertise and state-of-the-art research capabilities, IIT IFSH’s collaborative research model helps stakeholders define and design innovative and practical approaches to solving real-world challenges in food industry operations. Located at IIT’s Moffett Campus in Bedford Park, Ill., IFSH is also home to the FDA CFSAN Division of Food Processing Science and Technology. For more, click here.

Contact Renee McBrien at 708.563.8271 or mcbrienr@iit.edu for more information on the Department of Food Science and Nutrition.