Today, in Australia and overseas a large number of the graduates of a Food Science and Technology program will be employed by the Food Industry in positions that require leadership and sound knowledge of developing, on a scientific basis, processed product formulations. Within this framework and to cope with the complexity of the task, the industry has adopted the so-called 'sophisticated biomaterial approach' that requires understanding of the molecular interactions of biopolymers (proteins and polysaccharides), small polyhydroxyl compounds as co-solutes in the basic formulation (e.g. sugars) and their replacers (e.g. polydextrose), edible fats and oils and their replacement (eg dietary fibre), and counterions inducing gelation (e.g. salts).
Every year, a voluminous patented literature attempts to safeguard the interests of the industry in this area taking advantage of the aforementioned specialized knowledge and its implications for the chemistry, structure, functionality, texture and QDA sensory evaluation of added value commercial products. Based on this, the course aims to introduce students to the language and principles of rheology and texture in model biomaterials and related industrial formulations. This will then be discussed in conjunction with the principles of biophysics in order to unveil the molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed rheological behaviour. Such a combined treatise should enhance your employment prospects and further support the Australian food industry and Food Sciences RMIT as a hub of innovation and quality control.
The content of the course has been identified to be of primary interest in the food science and technology programme at RMIT University, and the lecturers of the course have drawn from their considerable expertise, working with the food industry or research institutes (eg Unilever, Nestle, Sanitarium Health Foods Company, Montague fresh and CSIRO/FNS) to emphasize current issues and challenges pertaining to the subject.

This course includes a Work Integrated Learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/ or community is integral to your experience.