Forging a Strategic Research Alliance for the Future
We invite you to become our partner and Join Our Research and Development Team
Partners in Innovation
The Department of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts is a top-ranked research and teaching organization with an exceptional record in educating students and industry leaders while expanding the boundaries of scientific knowledge in both basic and applied research. UMass Food Science was ranked the top PhD research program by the National Research Council and the Department has 4 that have been named as the most highly cited agricultural scientist in the world by Thomson Reuters’. We are committed to maintaining our scientific and technological excellence while promoting economic development and a safe, more nutritious and high quality food supply.
Continuing our tradition of excellence, we have established an Industrial Strategic Research Alliance program that has been in existence since 1995. The goals of the SRA have been to keep members up to date with the latest research areas, establish strong relationships with the faculty leading to sponsored research, get exposure to the students/future employees and discuss common challenges facing the industry. Since its inception, the Research Alliance has had over 50 collaborative research project with the food industry. Membership will offer your company advanced and preferred access to our research projects, laboratory facilities, students and post docs.
Wide-Ranging Expertise
Our top ranked Department and award-winning faculty has gained national and international recognition for research in diverse fields such as chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, food safety, nutrition, engineering, and biotechnology. A creative approach to scientific problems has consistently produced a wealth of new ideas and techniques. Substantial ongoing grant-funding has enabled us to keep abreast of research trends with some of the best equipped laboratories and facilities.
Strategic Planning for the Future
The Department is constantly looking for ways to become more efficient, cost-effective, and productive, and in recent years has taken bold steps to anticipate the challenges of the future. By building on our strengths, and adding outstanding young scientists to our staff, we fashioned a research base capable of taking on a broad array of novel and exciting projects. Having recently establishing the Fergus Clydesdale Foods for Health and Wellness Center, we are in position to continue to be at the forefront of Food Science research.
Resourceful Innovation
Using a team approach, we address research problems in Food Science with an expansive focus capable of moving rapidly from the molecular to the applied levels. By flexibly combining the talents and expertise of scientists in our department with those of University of Massachusetts colleagues in the complementary fields of Polymer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Engineering, among others, we can optimize our research capabilities and create innovative research teams to meet the changing demands of the food industry.
Centers of Emphasis
At the heart of our strategic plan is the decision to focus our research capacity in four core areas of strength. These are Molecular Properties of Foods,The Safety of Food, Foods for Health and Wellness, and Sustainable Food Material Processing. Click here to learn more about our Research Centers.
Responsive Relationships
Membership in our Strategic Research Alliance program is an investment which brings your company into close collaboration with our scientific staff, providing a continuous stimulus for new ideas and enabling us to align our research expertise with your needs. It will assure you of priority access to our faculty including one-on-one consulting at our annual meeting. You will be able to get to know our graduate students and our annual meeting poster session and research presentations, and you will be provided with the latest research results of interest to you in a bi-annual newsletter. Your membership will involve you directly in the generation of innovative ideas and will put you at the head of the line for scheduling client-funded research projects.
Your $6,000 annual membership fee will help us to purchase and maintain state-of-the-art equipment, reducing the need to add on equipment costs for projects directly tailored to your needs. Membership may be renewed annually at the same cost.
Benefits:
As part of the stimulating interchange of ideas and information, you'll receive:
An annual meetings with:
- A half-day workshop with updates on food science challenges and cutting edge research presentations
- Opportunities to meet on-on-one with faculty
- Opportunities to scout graduate students through Interactions with student research teams and student presentations
Newsletters presenting research innovations, Department happenings and preprints of faculty research.
One free registration for UMass workshops, 50% discount for additional attendees.
Four hours of free phone consulting with faculty
Access to publications via the UMass Library
Webinars on specific topics or clusters of topics
Certified Food Scientist (IFT) credits
Preferential use of our Pilot Plant and laboratory equipment at reduced rates.
Click here for a listing of our current Strategic Research Alliance members.
Contact Information
For additional information please contact:
Lili He, Department Head
Department of Food Science
Chenoweth Lab
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
413-545-5847
lilihe@umass.edu