FoodS.U.R.E. Undergraduate Student Research

Why participate in FoodS.U.R.E.?
Joining the FoodS.U.R.E. program provides students with access to important resources and support for success in undergraduate research. The FoodS.U.R.E. Program is overseen by current FST graduate students who facilitate matching students with prospective advisors, support students in developing their research projects, and serve as mentors to participating students.

Additionally, students are provided access to a Carmen page with modules that cover various topics related to conducting undergraduate research such as: conducting a literature review, writing a research proposal, analyzing and visualizing data, and developing a poster presentation.

Finally, the FoodS.U.R.E. program provides financial support to FST-affiliated students and faculty members who participate. FST undergraduate students are eligible to receive a one-time scholarship of $1,000, which is awarded after the approval of a student’s research proposal by the FoodS.U.R.E. committee. Faculty members in FST who advise students in FoodS.U.R.E. are eligible to receive up to $750 to support the cost of research materials and lab supplies.

FoodS.U.R.E. participants will:

• Engage in research for at least one semester with a faculty member in Food Science and Technology or a related discipline. The area of research is completely up to the student and faculty member. The student and advisor will complete the FoodS.U.R.E. Terms of Agreement together with any graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or staff mentors. This document will be uploaded to Carmen Canvas for approval by FoodS.U.R.E. coordinators.
• Register in 1 credit of FST 4999 with faculty advisor and follow all requirements for CFAES Guidelines for Graduating with Research Distinction. Click here for guidelines.
  • Additional information: https://students.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/forms
• Complete the CANVAS research pre-requisite module and relevant safety and other trainings (such as use of human subjects, etc.) that are necessary for research in the chosen advisor’s laboratory, prior to beginning research.
• Develop and submit a research proposal with support from project mentor and supervising faculty mentor. FoodS.U.R.E. students will have access to example proposals and formatting guidelines through Carmen Canvas. Submission of the research proposal also serves as the application for the $1750/project food science award. $750 to be directed to the FST faculty mentor’s laboratory for supplies and $1000 to be awarded to the FST student as a scholarship. Student can be funded for only one project at a time but are eligible for multiple projects during their studies. To be eligible for funding, research proposals MUST by submitted by the last day of regularly-scheduled classes at least one full semester before graduating (i.e for students graduating in SP, proposals must be turned in on or before the last day of regularly-scheduled AU classes). Students are still eligible to participate in FoodSURE meetings and events, but proposals submitted after this date may not be funded.
• View FoodS.U.R.E. seminars available in Carmen Canvas, which provide guidance for navigating the various stages of research, and attend check-in events each semester with FoodS.U.R.E. Coordinators.
• Present research at the FoodS.U.R.E. Poster Competition and the CFAES Research Forum in the spring. Participants are also encouraged to present at the OVIFT Poster Competition, Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, Undergraduate Research Festival, and national meetings, as appropriate.

Role of research faculty advisor:
The faculty advisor agrees to mentor the undergraduate student in research for the duration of the project. Expectations for the research project need to be agreed upon between the student and faculty mentor and documented through the FoodS.U.R.E. Terms of Research Agreement. The FST faculty advisor may receive compensation in the amount of $750 per student per project to offset costs associated with that student’s research project (e.g. supplies, travel to meetings, disposables etc.). The FST student may receive $1000/project for engaging in research. If the project requires additional funds, these will need to be sought elsewhere.

Role of project mentor:
We encourage faculty members to pair FoodS.U.R.E. participants with a graduate student, postdoctoral scholar, research scientist or other suitable staff member to act as a project mentor.

FoodSURE FAQ

Am I eligible to participate in FoodSURE?

• All students enrolled in the Department of Food Science and Technology’s undergraduate degree programs (Food Science and Technology, Food Business, Culinary Science) are eligible to participate in FoodSURE. Students enrolled in other degree programs are also eligible to participate in FoodSURE if they are conducting research with a member of the FST Faculty: https://fst.osu.edu/our-people/faculty.

What are the deadlines for joining FoodSURE?

• Students can join FoodSURE at any time during their degree. Faculty often prefer students to have completed introductory food science and/ or basic science courses before conducting research, but exceptions are often made for students with previous experience. To be eligible for funding through the FoodSURE program, students must complete and submit a research proposal at least one full semester before graduating.

How do I find a faculty advisor?

• All of the FST faculty members provide brief summaries of their research programs here: https://fst.osu.edu/our-people/faculty. Additionally, FoodSURE graduate coordinators are able to help facilitate connections between undergraduate students and FST faculty members. Reach out to the coordinators listed above if you are interested in FoodSURE, and they can help you identify a faculty member that matches your interests.

I am a graduate student interested in mentoring an undergraduate. How can I get involved in FoodSURE?

• Graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and staff members who are interested in mentoring undergraduate students through FoodSURE should first confirm with their faculty advisor that they are able to take on this responsibility. After doing so, reach out to FoodSURE coordinators for help recruiting an undergraduate student.

When is the best time to start a FoodSURE project?

• FoodSURE projects can be completed at any point during a students undergraduate degree; however, we ask students to ensure that they have adequate time to dedicate to a research project before submitting a FoodSURE proposal. After being matched with a faculty member, students are required to complete a Terms of Research Agreement with their faculty member and any other graduate student or staff mentors to ensure expectations are clear for both parties before completing a research proposal.

I don’t want to do an entire project, but I would be interested in shadowing lab research. Is FoodSURE a good fit for me?

• Yes! FoodSURE is a program designed to introduce students to research at all stages. Students who are unsure about committing to an entire project but interested in shadowing research in FST should reach out to FoodSURE coordinators for for guidance on identifying an opportunity for shadowing.

Do I have to be registered for FST 4999?  

• Yes! This is an important part of the FoodSURE program, which ensures that the program is able to continue supporting students. Students should register in the 4999 section of the faculty member with which they are doing research. FST students conducting research outside of the department are still required to enroll in one credit of FST 4999. Reach out to the current coordinators to facilitate enrollment in 4999 with Dr. Vodovotz.

Does FoodSURE count towards the requirements for research distinction?

• For CFAES students: The FoodSURE program is designed to closely align with the CFAES requirements for graduating with research distinction. However, students must work with their faculty advisor to complete and submit a Plan for Graduating with Research Distinction at least two semester prior to graduate. More information on graduating with research distinction in CFAES is available here: https://students.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/academics/research.
• For non-CFAES students: Please reach out to your academic advisor or the undergraduate research coordinator for your home Department of College to confirm your program’s requirements for graduating with research distinction and compatibility with the FoodSURE program requirements. We have had many students from programs outside of CFAES successfully complete the FoodSURE program and graduate with research distinction, but this often requires coordination to ensure both sets of requirements are met. Keep in mind that this coordination may take time—if you are planning to graduate with research distinction in a non-CFAES program, reach out early to ensure that plans can be made to accommodate research done as part of the FoodSURE program.

How does the funding work? 

• There are two separate funding mechanisms for the FoodSURE program. Students are eligible for a scholarship of up to $1,000 and faculty members are eligible to receive up to $1,000 to support supplies and equipment costs associated with student projects. Submission of the student’s research proposal to the FoodSURE coordinators initiates the funding process. After approval of the research proposal by the FoodSURE committee, the FST Fiscal Team will coordinate dissemination of the scholarship and research funds. Undergraduate students can expect their scholarship to be processed at the beginning of the next academic term. Students may not receive scholarships for proposal submitted in the final semester of their undergraduate degree.

What are the criteria for selection and do they get some guidance on application.

• There are no criteria for participating in FoodSURE. Interested students should connect with current FoodSURE coordinators to review the program requirements and receive assistance with finding a faculty member.

Are honors students eligible to participate in FoodSURE? How do the requirements differ for Honors students?

• Yes-Honor students are eligible to participate in all facets of the FoodSURE program. However, they are not eligible for the FoodSURE funds (for student or laboratory) if they are using that research project to satisfy their honors research requirements since separate CFAES funds are allocated for that purpose. Please see Honors Handbook for the appropriate requirements.