Student Club Funding
Food Science Clubs are eligible for $500 each year to use for any of the following:
- Speakers, including their travel and lodging and other expenses including room reservations and audio visual equipment
- Banners or table drapes
- Posters or flyers advertising club events
- Clothes such as club hats or shirts
- Other similar items
- Funds may not be used for food
In order to receive your funding, you must submit in writing a proposal to the Section Chair. Include in the proposal the name of your college, club name, contact information including phone and mailing address, and a short paragraph describing how you will use the funds along with an estimate of what it will cost.
The funding request must be received by the section chair at least one week ahead of the meeting. A representative of the club must attend the board meeting and present your proposal to the Board. If you received funds in the past, please include a short description of how you used the money. Apply early in the year so you can use your funds. Contact your Student Representative if you have questions.
Phil Bates Scholarship Awards
SCIFTS is offering scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. The awards will provide financial assistance to High School, Undergraduate and Graduate Students who are attending or planning to attend a college or university in SCIFTS geographical area (Southern California) majoring in Food Science. Application deadline extended until May 10, 2025.
Wayne Bidlack Scholarship Award
SCIFTS is offering the Wayne Bidlack scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. The award will provide financial assistance to a Graduate Student currently attending Cal Poly Pomona. A $2,000 grant will be awarded to a qualified student who is currently working toward a graduate degree in Nutrition & Food Science. Application deadline extended until May 10, 2025.
2025 Student Travel Grants for IFT first
Student Travel Grants will be available for IFT first Annual Event and Expo. IFT first will be held July 13-16, 2025 at the McCormick Center in Chicago, IL. Ten (10) $750 Travel grants will be available for students to attend.
Education and Research Grants
SCIFTS Education and Research Grants are available to educational research institutions that advance food science, nutrition and closely related technologies within the SCIFTS’ geographical area. Funding proposals will be evaluated on the potential contribution to further the knowledge in the fields of food science and nutrition, and on the potential contribution to develop students as competent scientific investigators or educators in these disciplines. The emphasis is to enhance programs that will benefit a large segment of the student population.
Education and Research Grants awarded in May, 2024.
| UNIVERSITY | PROFESSOR | GRANT | PURPOSE |
| Chapman University | Dr. Uyen Thuy Xuan Phan | $23,001.00 | Compusense software for sensory tests, FaceReader for consumer emotion analysis, and XLSTAT – Sensory for advanced data analysis. |
| Chapman University | Dr. Lillian Sanger | $15,000.00 | Acquisition of an Exhaust collector DT20 for a Kjeldahl unit and consumables for Glycation Food Chemistry Research. |
| Cal State Northridge | Dr. Rosalia Garcia- Torres | $9,500.00 | Purchase of a freezer dryer for use in valorization of vegetable byproducts and native plants for new product development. |
| Chapman University | Dr Rosalee Hellberg | $10,000.00 | Purchase of supplies for the execution and completion of student-led food authenticity research projects-DNA Extraction kits, PCR supplies, Gel Electrophoresis supplies,lab consumables. |
| Orange Coast College | Michelle Tu | $5,519.520 | Purchase the Harvest Right Home Pro XL Freeze Dryer for use in Food Science classes, workshops, and interdepartmental research. |