102925 End of Year Message
If the end of the year has you looking for ways to lower your taxes, consider this often-overlooked option. If you are age 70½ or older, making a gift from your IRA to Phi Tau Sigma could be a smart and impactful move. This type of gift, known as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), allows you to transfer funds directly from your IRA to this honor society, tax-free.
Your generosity in this season of giving will create an enduring legacy of offering rich opportunities to future food professionals. We are grateful for your support. Specifying our non-profit federal tax ID number 42-1199432 ensures your gift is properly credited. If you would like more information about making an impact, please visit our how to contribute webpage.
Dues Increase – effective January 1, 2026
Consider a one-time Lifetime Member dues payment, and never have to pay dues again. The cost for NEW Lifetime memberships will increase to $600 on January 1, 2026. The current $400 lifetime membership cost will be honored for any new Lifetime members until midnight December 31, 2025. Join our nearly 400 renowned Lifetime Members at just 67% of the new lifetime price.
Speedy Science 2026 Call for Abstracts
The University of Minnesota’s Phi Tau Sigma chapter is proud to announce the 6 th annual Speedy Science competition, taking place Wednesday, March 25, 2026, via Zoom. For the first time, this year’s competition is open to international food science students, welcoming submissions from accredited universities worldwide. Abstract submissions are now open! Interested students should submit their abstracts by Feb 21, 2026 through the University of Minnesota Phi Tau Sigma chapter’s online portal or byscanning the QR code.
Submission Due Date
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Phi Tau Sigma Research Competition - 2026
The Program Committee is sponsoring the third annual Phi Tau Sigma Research Competition for all Phi Tau Sigma student and post-doctoral members that have had a scientific presentation or poster at a professional meeting or conference between November 1, 2024 and November 30, 2025.
Undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral members are encouraged to compete for awards (amounts to be determined). Students and post-docs interested in competing should submit a synopsis of their research presentation by December 15, 2025 to the Program Committee Chair, Matt Moore, Ph.D. (mdmoore4188@gmail.com), copied to the Newsletter Editor, Sasi Rajendran, Ph.D. (newsletter@phitausigma.org).
Submission Due Date
Saturday, December 15, 2025
Mentorships
The Mentorship Program matches students and professionals from different institutions to provide experiential learning in Food Science and Technology as well as workplace guidance, perspectives and insights for greater breadth and depth in our discipline.
The primary goal of the program is to ensure both the mentees and the mentors have an enjoyable and career-impacting collaboration. If you wish to participate as a mentor or as a mentee, use our Contact form.
Purposes
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To recognize and honor professional achievements of Food Scientists and Technologists,
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To encourage the application of fundamental scientific principles to Food Science and Technology in each of its branches,
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To stimulate the exchange of scientific knowledge through meetings, lectures, and publications,
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To establish and maintain a network of like-minded professionals,
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To promote exclusively charitable, scientific, literary and educational programs.
Mission
Our mission is to elevate awareness of our discipline and formally recognize academic students and working professionals in Food Science and Technology.
This mission is fulfilled by teaching Food Science students and mentoring professionals through the collective knowledge, skills and resources of the Phi Tau Sigma member network.
