Thought for Food: Training Scientists Who Can Translate Basic Research into Healthy Foods

Non-Technical Summary:<br/>
The role food plays in human health and well-bring is of growing scientific and public interest. Ensuring that consumers benefit from potential health-promoting effects of select foods while maintaining a safe and abundant food supply depends on a workforce of well-educated Food Scientists. More than ever, these individuals must have not only rigorous scientific training, but effective communication skills to provide sound information to the public about health and food safety claims reported by the popular press. We propose a training program in the Food and Nutrition for Health area that provides multidisciplinary training for 3 Ph.D Fellows and supports the USDA Strategic Goals and Objectives to improve nutrition and health, and to promote a safe food supply. Fellows selected in collaboration with North Carolina A&T University will develop critical thinking skills through resident education and thesis research. Leadership and public communication skills will be gained through the establishment of Structured Controversies and Scientific Evidence for Health Claims seminar series, which will be organized by the Fellows and used to critique current issues in Food Science and Nutrition in a public forum. Integration of the Fellows into the undergraduate research programs at NC A&T University will additionally transform them into the next generation of mentors. This program will impact the TESA in the short and long term through the professional development of global-ready Fellows, education of the public, and the strengthening of relationships between the Food Science programs at Penn State and NC A&T University.
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Approach:<br/>
We will select 3 Ph.D Fellows for this program through traditional recruitment procedures of the Department of Food Science, but also work in cooperation with our Office of Multicultural Affairs and with collaborators at North Carolina A&T State University to target individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups. Unlike our traditional offer letters which identify the student's thesis advisor, offers to potential National Needs fellows will be left open to allow the Fellow to decide which specialty and mentor best fits his or her career goals and interests. Fellows will also be encouraged to select a second advisor in a different area to enhance cross-disciplinary training. Fellows will develop critical thinking skills through resident education and thesis research. Leadership and public communication skills will be gained through the establishment of Structured Controversies and Scientific Evidence for Health Claims seminar series, which will be organized by the Fellows and used to critique current issues in Food Science and Nutrition in a public forum. <P>
Integration of the Fellows into the undergraduate research programs at NC A&T University will additionally transform them into the next generation of mentors. We will create measurement tools for developing the logic model and collecting data in the input-output-outcomes continuum of the project, particularly addressing the following measures: 1) Completion of doctoral degree in 3-4 years with graduate GPA of 3.5 or greater; 2) A record of scholarly productivity that should include 2-3 peer-reviewed papers; 3) Attendance and poster or oral presentation at 1-2 national or international scientific meetings; 4) Placement in academic, government, or industry employment relevant to degree; 5) Evaluation by the principal faculty advisors indicating Fellow had a positive impact on the field of Food Science and the Department culture; and 6) Positive evaluation by the student cohort regarding the value of the new educational program, and their willingness to recommend the program to prospective students.
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Progress:<br/>
2012/02 TO 2013/01<br/>
OUTPUTS: The past year focused on the recruitment of outstanding candidates for this program. A committee comprising of the faculty on this grant made a conscious decision to delay the start of the program for recruits until Fall 2013 for several reasons: 1) This grant was official launched February 2012, which is past the date that we historically focus the most effort identifying and recruiting outstanding students; 2) We generally see the strongest applicants for Fall admissions; 3) We strongly felt that for this program to be successful that we should bring all three fellows in at the same time. Early Fall 2012 we started an intense recruitment process that included steps such as contacting department heads of all Food Science programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, and taking out an advertisement in the journal Science. We obtained 10 applications, and used phone calls and campus visits to learn more about each candidate. The committee met in Feb 2012 to discuss all of the candidates, and agreed to make offers to the three highest ranking individuals. We are pleased to say that as of March 5, we received acceptances from all of them. The remainder of the time between now and the students' arrival will focus on planning the seminar series program that they will be expected to lead starting Spring 2014.
<br/>PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
<br/>TARGET AUDIENCES: Three outstanding fellows recruited for this program.
<br/>PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
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IMPACT: As a Food Science Department this program has caused us to think deeper about our goals for graduate education, and through the recruitment process for the National Needs has strengthened our relationships with other Food Science programs. We hope to leverage this during future recruiting efforts in order to continue increasing the diversity of our graduate student population.