Introduction to Department of Food Science and Engineering

The "Department of Food Science and Engineering" is premier education and research unit, previously originated from the "Department of Forest Cultivation" at former "College of Forest Resources and Environment", Nanjing Forestry University. From 2000 to 2005, it has recruited undergraduates in a forestry major (towards food science and engineering direction). As approved by the Ministry of Education in 2005, the undergraduate program was formally established with the purpose to disseminate current knowledge, develop latest skills and imbibe rich values. Since 2006, the undergraduate program has been independently enrolled in order to provide top tier education in the field of "food science and engineering". In 2014, the major of "Food Science and Engineering" was merged with the curriculum of newly founded "Department of Food Science and Engineering" at the "College of Light Industry Science and Engineering". In 2017, the "College of Light Industry Science and Engineering" was renamed as the "College of Light Industry and Food Engineering". In 2018, the major program of "Food Science and Engineering" was recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic China as the first-level discipline master's degree, and subsequently started recruiting doctoral students in the field of food science.

The "Department of Food Science and Engineering" offers students admission in two prominent undergraduate majors, including "Food Science and Engineering", and "Food Quality and Safety". The school provides one first-level discipline in Master’s degree conferment subject of "Food Science and Engineering", one second-level discipline in Master’s degree conferment subject and one Doctor’s degree conferment subject of "Fermentation Engineering", as well as one Master’s degree conferment subject of "Biology and Medicine". Therefore, the department recruits doctoral as well as master students in the fermentation engineering and food science. The department houses 7 main research laboratories, including labs of Food Chemistry and Analysis, Functional Food, Fermentation Engineering, Food Engineering, Food Nutrition, Food Safety, and Food Technology, etc. The research laboratories are well-equipped with sophisticated scientific research instruments, such as high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, electronic nose, microplate reader, texture analyzer, etc.

The "Department of Food Science and Engineering" is represented by 24 faculty members, including 2 professors, 12 associated professors and 1 foreign teaching staff, whose mission is to enhance multidisciplinary research activities in respective areas. Besides, one of the professors has been honored as Jiangsu Province "333 Project" High-Level Talent, and another professor has been selected as Jiangsu Province "Six Talent Peaks" talent. Moreover, it also employs 9 young teaching staff with overseas study background. With respect to research domains, there are total four academic research directions in the department, including "Forest Products Processing and Storage Engineering", "Food Nutrition", "Food Safety" and "Food Biotechnology". During the last 3 years, the department has received 16 research projects from national and provincial financial supports. More than 400 academic papers were published in high-quality national and international academic journals, and over 30 patent applications have been granted inventive patents. In recent years, the department has continuously made great achievements in food science and technology. This can be evidenced from various accomplishment in the form of 7 provincial and ministerial awards for scientific research achievements, 2 first prize of science and technology progress award of China light industry federation, 1 second prize and 1 third prize of "Liangxi" forestry science and technology award, 1 first prize of national business science and technology progress award, 1 first prize of Shanghai science and technology progress award, and 1 first prize of science and technology progress of Jiangsu provincial department of education. The department has also edited 2 provincial and ministerial planning textbooks, 1 provincial first-class course, and won 1 second prize of Jiangsu provincial teaching achievement, and 2 second prizes of provincial micro-class competition.

In terms of personnel training of students, we emphasize on the direction of employment-oriented education, strengthen the basic education, broaden professional competence, pay attention to quality education and ability training, promote students' personality development, and further cultivate "High-quality, International and Innovative" modern food talents. Besides, we also help to guide the students to actively participate in the "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition of Challenge Cup College Students", "Food Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition of Jiangsu College Students", "Food Science and Technology Forum of Nanjing University " and other discipline competitions. Through the guidance, the students have got excellent results in many domestic competitions. Undergraduate program has been designed to train and produce competent graduates to serve the food industries, academia as well as the government/private sectors. Postgraduate students are required to undergo an industrial training to enhance their knowledge on the real challenge in the industrial world and related services. On top of that, they have to conduct a research project and submit the thesis upon completion of the degree programme.