Partnerships & Learning

In the Department of Food Science and Technology, we believe in collaborative research as the most effective way to address complex challenges and create meaningful scientific advancements. Whether you represent industry, academia, or government, we welcome the opportunity to explore mutually beneficial collaborations. To learn more about our research areas, go to our Research page and contact a faculty member within that discipline.

We place a high value on experiential learning in our programs and it's collaboration with partners in our field that makes that possible. Guest lecture on a specific topic, speak to the Food Science Club about your industry experience, or invite students to a production facility to give them a hands-on look into a new area of food science. To inquire about educational partnership opportunities, contact the main office. 

As a member of Virginia Tech's Bridge Experience Program, we require all students to do some level of experiential learning, including internships and co-ops. This requirement and our relationship with numerous food companies and government institutions allows us to have a 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation. Companies that commonly recruit our students are Tyson Foods, E&J Gallo Winery, the Sabra Dipping Company, Hershey, the USDA, the FDA, and more. To set up a recruiting visit, contact the main office or Assistant Professor of Practice for Undergraduate Education Herbert Bruce. 

Our commitment to our land grant mission drives us to share the wealth of knowledge generated through our research for the greater good of our communities. Explore our extension page to find publications, online courses, published research, trainings, and more on an array of food science topics. 

Our programs are designed to prepare students for success in positions across the spectrum of food science fields, and as a result, our alumni serve as an important bridge between academia and the professional world. Whether you own your own business, occupy a leadership position in the FDA, are an academic researcher, or work for an international food company, your experiences and insight are invaluable to our students. Guest lecture in a specific class, offer students an opportunity to visit your company, or make a monetary gift. There are a variety of ways you can give back, and all of them serve to reinforce our students' education. To explore partnership opportunities for alumni, contact the front office. To make a monetary donation, go to our Giving page.