About the Department
The Department of Food Science at Penn State is one of the premier food science departments in the country.
The Department of Food Science is Penn State’s home for the emerging technologies and best practices required for producing, safe, delicious, nutritious food. Our small-school atmosphere facilitates a warm, welcoming, intellectually stimulating, and professional environment.
Our work is closely aligned with the demands of industry and the needs of the community. We boast state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty with years of working experience in their fields.
Student success drives the department. Our undergraduate Food Science major offers students hands-on science with real-world applications, strong internship experiences, wide-ranging scholarship opportunities, and excellent job placement.
Our graduate program offers master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees. Graduate students receive in-depth training in the core disciplines of food chemistry, food microbiology, food engineering and processing, and sensory evaluation.
Research is facilitated through core disciplines as well as following collaborative multidisciplinary signature areas: Microbial Food Safety, Food Choice, Food-Based Solutions for Enhanced Health, and the Material Nature of Foods, as well as underlying cross-cutting research themes of Food Quality and Food Fermentation. Students can participate in meaningful research from the first semester of their first year.
Meet our faculty, staff, and students, and see why we are one of the premier food science departments in the country.
Latest News
January 23, 2023
Researchers devise, test food-safety training program for farmers market vendors
Responding to a need revealed in their earlier studies, a team of Penn State researchers developed and pilot-tested a customized food safety training program for farmer’s market vendors.
Read More
January 17, 2023
Bucknavage appointed to Pennsylvania Food Policy Council Advisory Committee
The governor’s office recently named Martin Bucknavage to represent Penn State Extension on the advisory committee of the new Pennsylvania Food Policy Council. Bucknavage is a senior food safety extension associate in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and team lead for industrial food safety and quality.
Read More
January 11, 2023
Researchers devise, test food-safety training program for farmers market vendors
Responding to a need revealed in their earlier studies, a team of Penn State researchers developed and pilot-tested a customized food safety training program for farmer’s market vendors.
Read More
December 5, 2022
College of Ag Sciences minority alumni return to campus, discuss their journeys
Four graduates of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently returned to campus to discuss success in class to success in life as guest speakers on a minority alumni panel, hosted by the college’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Read More
Upcoming Events

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Programs for Meat and Poultry Processors (HACCP) University Park, PA
January 31 - February 2, 2023
University Park, PA

Seminar - Inspiring the next generation of food safety leaders
February 2, 2023
Hybrid Seminar/226 Erickson Food Science Building

Preventive Controls for Human Foods - Glen Mills, PA
March 21-23, 2023
Glen Mills, PA

Better Process Control School
March 27 - April 5, 2023
Virtual Online Event
Department of Food Science
- Email foodsci@psu.edu
- Office (814) 865-5444
- Fax (814) 863-6132