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Postdoctoral Food Science Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Postdoctoral Food Science information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Postdoctoral Food Science position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Postdoctoral Food Science professional, you need a PhD in Food Science or a related discipline, experience in experimental design, and strong research and analytical skills. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, data analysis software (such as SAS, R, or MATLAB), and scientific publishing is typically required. Excellent communication, teamwork, and project management abilities set standout candidates apart. These skills enable successful project execution, clear dissemination of findings, and effective collaboration in academic or industry research settings.

What is a Postdoctoral Food Science job?

A Postdoctoral Food Science job is a research-focused position for individuals who have completed a Ph.D. in food science or a related field. It typically involves conducting advanced research on food safety, quality, processing, or nutrition, often within a university, government agency, or industry setting. Postdocs work under the supervision of senior researchers, contribute to publications, and may gain experience in teaching or mentoring students. The position is usually temporary, lasting one to three years, and helps researchers build expertise before pursuing faculty roles or industry positions.

What are the typical responsibilities and focus areas for a Postdoctoral Food Science position?

Postdoctoral Food Science roles primarily involve conducting original research, developing and optimizing food products or processes, and publishing related findings in peer-reviewed journals. Responsibilities may include designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, collaborating with other scientists or industry partners, and mentoring graduate or undergraduate students. The focus areas can vary based on the research group or employer, ranging from food safety and microbiology to sensory science and product development. Candidates will often work within cross-functional teams and may have opportunities to present findings at conferences, helping to build their professional network for future career growth.

What are popular job titles related to Postdoctoral Food Science jobs in Ohio? For Postdoctoral Food Science jobs in Ohio, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Postdoctoral Food Science jobs in Ohio look for? The top searched job categories for Postdoctoral Food Science jobs in Ohio are:
Infographic showing various Postdoctoral Food Science job openings in Ohio as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Postdoctoral Research Associate- Food Microbiology

Postdoctoral Research Associate- Food Microbiology

Central State University

Wilberforce, OH • On-site

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Posting Details
Posting Details
Posting Number
0801832
Classification Title
Postdoctoral Research Associate- Food Microbiology
Working Title
Department
Agriculture Research Development Program (ARDP)
Department Contact Email
rkorir@centralstate.edu
Job Summary/Basic Function
JOB SUMMARY
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate specializing in food microbiology safety to work on pathogen study projects focused on pre-and post-harvest fresh produce safety, especially those grown in aquaponics and hydroponic systems. The position involves agricultural, food science, and microbiological collaborative projects located at CSU campus in Wilberforce, Ohio. The main goal of our food safety studies is to improve food safety and reduce foodborne illness by examining the routes of contamination of fruits and vegetables with human pathogens. Under guidance from the CSU project directors, the participant will help in designing and conducting all aspects of the experiments from laboratory to growth chambers, greenhouse, aquaponics, and fields trials. The participant will learn methods to reduce bacterial pathogen loads contamination, integrated data collection and analysis, and novel methods to isolate and maintain microbial cells and nucleic acids. This is an integrated produce safety research project, and the participant will have opportunities to learn and participate in our food safety extensions programs.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:
• Participates in and coordinates: microbiological research and field research project design.
• Leads experiment execution, sampling, data analysis, reporting, and publication preparation.
• Help design and implement research protocols and coordinate research studies focusing on human pathogenic bacteria, microbiome, biofilms, and fungi in aquaponics and hydroponic systems.
• Assist as needed to analyze water samples for microbiological quality from the CSU extension stakeholder's farmers and industries in states of Ohio.
• Carry out Bio-informatics analysis.
• Evaluation of microbiological quality of the fresh produce in local agricultural and food production systems.
• Perform food microbiology research reviews.
• Supervise research assistant students in the laboratory.
• Contribute to development and improvement of the CSU food safety sanitation and good agricultural practices training program
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
• Cooperate with the lab technicians to oversee media preparation, culture management, bio-assay studies in growth chambers and greenhouse studies maintenance, experiment media and reagent quality control analysis.
• Perform microbiological and molecular analysis using culturing, DNA & RNA extractions, PCR, and qPCR techniques.
• Collect, analyze, and report research data for presentations in farmers' seminars and research conferences, and for manuscript preparation.
• Ability to adapt and apply academic/practical knowledge to conduct microbiological research on foods and food systems including water quality analysis required.
• Strong background in food microbiology experience particularly working with human pathogenic bacteria, working with technologies such as bioinformatics, SAS; R-studio; experience designing and leading research experiments, supervising undergraduate student research assistants, and analyzing data and manuscript preparation desired.
Minimum Qualifications
A Ph.D., in Microbiology, Food Safety, or Food Science & Technology or equivalent education experience in a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
Posting Date
06/10/2026
Closing Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
The applicant must have a valid driver's license. Also, the individual must be authorized to work in the US.
This is a full-time position funded by annual allocation by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Evans Allen Program with matching contributions from the State of Ohio.
The appointment will initially be for two years but may be renewed upon recommendation of CSU project directors and is contingent on the performance and availability of funds.
All offers of employment at Central State University are contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. This may include, but is not limited to, verification of education and employment history, criminal history check, driving record (if applicable), drug screening, and tax compliance review.
Certain positions may require additional screenings based on job responsibilities, regulatory requirements, or funding sources.
Failure to successfully complete the required background check or provide accurate and complete information may result in withdrawal of an offer or termination of employment.
Position Category
Budgeted Annual Salary
Commensurate with experience