NFS 203 Lab

Faculty research encompasses both basic and applied aspects of human nutrition and food science. Current studies focus on Web-based interactive multimedia tools for teaching and research, Internet-based weight management programs, milk chemistry, cheese technology and food microbiology

Since our faculty members` research interests are diverse, prospective graduate students should visit our faculty info section to review their research interests and contact individual department members for information about ongoing research projects and fellowship/assistantship opportunities.

*Graduate student applicants must have a faculty member willing to serve as their major advisor in order to be accepted into the program.

What coursework/research experience is involved?

  • Thesis research: 6 to 15 credit hours.
  • Stats 211: Statistical Methods 1
  • NFS 360: Research Methods in Nutrition and Food Sciences: A graduate-level NFS course focused on advanced research methods, including grant preparation, Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, data analysis and presentation.
  • NFS 350: Nutrition and Food Sciences Seminar: Weekly meetings focused on research presentations and critiques within the department (2 credits required).
  • GRAD 387: Comprehensive Examination: A written and/or oral comprehensive examination (decided up on by your advisor and thesis committee members).
  • Research and Thesis: Original research (and a written summary of it) conducted under the supervision of your faculty advisor. (Most graduate students also submit their thesis results, usually in condensed form to scholarly journals for publication consideration).
  • Thesis Defense: After presenting your thesis research findings at a public seminar open to the college community, a thesis defense committee (three University of Vermont graduate faculty members, one outside of the department) engage the graduate student in an oral defense of the thesis.

Am I qualified to apply?

Yes if...

  • You are interested in pursuing research in nutrition and food science and
  • You have an undergraduate degree in nutrition, dietetics, food science or another science (such as biology or chemistry) and
  • You have taken an undergraduate course in biochemistry, which has organic chemistry as a prerequisite.
  • You took the GREs with satisfactory results in the general (aptitude) portion.
  • A TOEFL score of 100 or above is required for a funded assistantship.

Interested individuals whose educational and/or professional experiences are not directly related to nutrition and food science are welcomed, too, but need to complete at least one semester of undergraduate-level biochemistry, which has organic chemistry as a prerequisite, before applying.

Learning Goals

  1. Attain and maintain an advanced level of knowledge in key content areas of nutrition and/or food sciences.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to design and defend a scientifically valid hypothesis-driven project to advance the field of nutrition or food sciences.
  3. Develop professional level oral and written communication skills designed to disseminate nutrition or food science research findings. 
  4. Demonstrate critical thinking and the ability to critically evaluate current research in specific scientific areas related to the nutrition or food sciences field.
  5. Conduct research for a successful transition into research, industry, government or other non-profit related jobs.

Places our M.S. In Nutrition and Food Sciences graduates have found employment:

  • PhD student at UC Davis
  • Extension Educator, Louisiana State University
  • Research Assistant, Vermont Lung Center
  • Health Analyst, Vermont Department of Health
  • Extension EFNEP Coordinator, University of Vermont
  • Product Development Scientist, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
  • Diabetes Educator
  • Dealer.com

 

Deadline: Feb 15, for students seeking funding (assistantships, fellowships).
Decisions are made by March 15.

Applications from students not seeking funding are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

For more graduate program information Contact:
Dr. Paul Kindstedt, or 802-656-2935

 

Graduate Student Resources