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Food Science Phd Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Senior Economic Mobility Research Specialist

Reston, VA · On-site

$95K - $121K/yr

... food security, and related human services programs * Lead the design, implementation, and oversight ... Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in political science, public policy, sociology, economics, or a ...

Showing results 41-60

Food Science Phd information

See Virginia salary details

$11

$22

$33

How much do food science phd jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for food science phd in Virginia is $22.39, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.20 and $28.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a food science PhD?

A Food Science PhD is an advanced academic degree focused on the study of the physical, biological, and chemical makeup of food, as well as the concepts underlying food processing and preservation. Individuals with a Food Science PhD conduct research to develop new food products, improve food safety, enhance nutritional value, and optimize processing methods. This degree prepares graduates for careers in academia, industry research, product development, and regulatory agencies. The program typically involves rigorous coursework and original research culminating in a dissertation.

What types of collaborative projects can a food science PhD expect to participate in within industry or academia?

As a Food Science PhD, you can expect to work on interdisciplinary teams that often include chemists, microbiologists, engineers, and product developers. Collaborative projects may focus on developing new food products, improving food safety protocols, or researching sustainable packaging solutions. These projects typically require effective communication and project management skills, as you'll coordinate experiments, share findings, and integrate feedback from various departments. Participation in such collaborative efforts not only enhances your technical expertise but also broadens your professional network, which is valuable for career advancement.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a food science PhD, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Food Science PhD, you need advanced knowledge in food chemistry, microbiology, processing, and strong research skills, typically supported by a doctoral degree in food science or a related field. Experience with laboratory instrumentation, statistical analysis software (such as SPSS or R), and familiarity with food safety regulations is crucial. Excellent problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and effective communication skills help distinguish top professionals in this role. These competencies are vital for driving innovation, ensuring food quality and safety, and advancing scientific understanding within the food industry.

What is the difference between Food Science Phd vs Food Technologist?

AspectFood Science PhdFood Technologist
Required CredentialsDoctorate in Food Science or related fieldBachelor's or Master's in Food Science or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academia, R&D departmentsManufacturing facilities, quality control labs, product development
Industry UsageResearch, academia, advanced R&DProduct development, quality assurance, production

The main difference between a Food Science Phd and a Food Technologist lies in their education level and focus. A Food Science Phd typically engages in advanced research and academic roles, while a Food Technologist works in practical product development and quality control within the food industry. Both roles require knowledge of food safety, chemistry, and processing, but the Phd emphasizes research and teaching, whereas the Technologist focuses on applying scientific principles to develop and improve food products.

What job categories do people searching Food Science Phd jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Food Science Phd jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Food Science Phd jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Food Science Phd job openings:

Infographic showing various Food Science Phd job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $46,573 per year, or $22.4 per hour.

Machine Learning Engineer II, Logistics AI

Instacart

Harrisonburg, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago


Instacart rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 33 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

35th of 64 rated delivery companies


Job description

We're transforming the grocery industry

At Instacart, we invite the world to share love through food because we believe everyone should have access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. Where others see a simple need for grocery delivery, we see exciting complexity and endless opportunity to serve the varied needs of our community. We work to deliver an essential service that customers rely on to get their groceries and household goods, while also offering safe and flexible earnings opportunities to Instacart Personal Shoppers.

Instacart has become a lifeline for millions of people, and we’re building the team to help push our shopping cart forward. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life, come join our table.

Instacart is a Flex First team

There’s no one-size fits all approach to how we do our best work. Our employees have the flexibility to choose where they do their best work—whether it’s from home, an office, or your favorite coffee shop—while staying connected and building community through regular in-person events. Learn more about our flexible approach to where we work.

About the Role:

As a Machine Learning Engineer, you will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with senior engineers and product leaders as part of your team. Together, you'll develop and enhance Instacart's marketplace systems. You will use machine learning to devise and refine solutions in crucial areas such as routing optimization, pricing, dispatch, and mapping. You will actively contribute to initiatives, assisting in all stages from the initial concept, through prototyping and experimentation, to final implementation.

About the Team:

The Logistics AI group is responsible for the intelligence and execution behind Instacart’s fulfillment system. The team optimizes a multi-sided marketplace to ensure customers get their orders on-time and in high quality, shoppers get efficient and fulfilling work, and retailers and consumer brands get reasonable business. The team tackles hard problems in a variety of spaces, such as matching, pricing, and geospatial, as well as foundational problems executing on a high throughput system with dynamic data.

About the Job:

  • Design, develop, and deploy machine learning solutions to tackle practical challenges in the marketplace.
  • Collaborate closely with product managers, data scientists, and backend engineers to deeply understand business needs and create impactful ML/AI applications.
  • Actively engage with diverse stakeholders to ensure that solutions are well-integrated and aligned with business goals.
  • Push the envelope on our operational efficiency by continually refining and advancing our algorithms and models.

About You:

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Have a graduate degree (masters or PhD) in artificial intelligence, machine learning, operations research or equivalent self study and experience 
  • Have strong programming skills in Python and fluency in data manipulation (SQL, Pandas) and Machine Learning (scikit-learn, XGBoost, Keras/Tensorflow) tools
  • Have strong analytical skills and problem-solving ability
  • Are a strong communicator who can collaborate with diverse stakeholders across all levels

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Have 1-2 years of industry experience using machine learning to solve real-world problems with large datasets
  • Knowledge of deep learning frameworks and methodologies
  • Experience in applying machine learning and optimization techniques to solve marketplace problems

Instacart provides highly market-competitive compensation and benefits in each location where our employees work. This role is remote and the base pay range for a successful candidate is dependent on their permanent work location. Please review our Flex First remote work policy here.

Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role. Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants. Please read more about our benefits offerings here.

For US based candidates, the base pay ranges for a successful candidate are listed below.


What Instacart employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Instacart logo

About Instacart

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Instacart, based in San Francisco, CA, US, operates within the retail industry, specifically grocery delivery and pick-up service. It is recognized as a pioneer in this field, delivering fresh groceries from local stores directly to customers' doors. The company, which launched its services in 2012, continues to pioneer change in the online grocery shopping sector through its commitment to cutting-edge technology, new business ideas, and dedicated service.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Francisco, CA, US

Year founded

2012