Nutrition Science Jobs

Nutrition science as a career field is growing in popularity because diet and a healthy lifestyle are growing in importance. With obesity out of control and the rapidly growing senior population, nutrition is a way to increase longevity, prevent disease and enhance the overall quality of an individual's life. New ingredients and foods are being created, and there is a need for scientific nutritionists to teach about, research and invent these products.

Clinical Dietitian

Clinical dietitians understand how the human body works and how food affects it. They are knowledgeable of the roles that foods play in certain diseases such as diabetes and cancers. This career focuses on treatment and disease prevention through nutrition.

Nutrition Educator

Nutrition educators are teachers who are scientific experts in nutrition. They communicate various health issues concerning nutrition to a range of audiences. There are other career options under this field such as writing, being a spokesperson or creating health-related teaching materials for food companies.

Nutritional Science Researcher

A nutritional science researcher is an expert in biology, genetics, physiology and chemistry. People working in this career typically spend a lot of time in labs studying how foods work within the body and how it differs between individuals. Lab work includes the use of cell cultures, animal models and human subjects with the goal of understanding how nutrition affects the human body's system.

Regulatory and Consumer Affairs Director

The regulatory and consumer affairs director is responsible for what is written on food labels and the nutritional information provided to consumers through the media, such as on TV commercials. They are experts in ingredients that are in supplements and foods. Many government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture need regulatory and consumer affairs directors to carry out polices and regulations. They also need these directors to communicate mportant ingredient information to consumers in a clear and accountable way.

Food Product or Ingredient Development Scientist

Food product and ingredient development scientists are chefs working in research kitchens developing new products and ingredients designed to be both nutritious and flavorful. The foods they create are often convenient and inexpensive for consumers to purchase in the grocery store.