What Does It Take to Become Department Head? with Job Ubbink, Food Science Professor and Department Head at University of Minnesota

What Does It Take to Become Department Head? with Job Ubbink, Food Science Professor and Department Head at University of Minnesota

May 7, 2026 · 1h 2m

About this episode

Dr. Job Ubbink discusses his unconventional career path and vision for food science as a people-centered discipline.

Dr. Job Ubbink is a professor and the head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, with a career spanning Givaudan, Nestlé, his own consultancy, and Cal Poly before landing in the Twin Cities. In this episode, we trace his unconventional path from chemistry and a Michelin-starred restaurant kitchen in the Netherlands to global R&D leadership and academia. Job shares his vision for food science as a broader, people-centered discipline, one that integrates physical chemistry, community, culture, and the realities of small artisanal producers. We also get into industry-academia collaboration, the ultra-processed foods debate, and what young food scientists need to do to become decision-makers, not just technical resources. LinkedIn account under: linkedin.com/in/job-ubbink-11204b7 and lab website at: ubbinklab.cfans.umn.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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