Students Invited to Submit Abstract for Ozark IFT Research Competition and Networking Event

The Ozark Section of the Institute of Food Technologists has opened the call for abstracts for its Student Research Competition and Networking Event, which will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the U of A.

The Institute of Food Technologists is a global professional organization dedicated to advancing the science of food and its application. The Ozark Section of IFT is the organization's regional chapter, serving about 100 members in Arkansas and parts of Missouri who study or work in food science, food technology, food business, food service and related fields.

The event will take place from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in room D1/D2 of the Food Science Department Building, 2650 N. Young Ave., Fayetteville. Free pizza will be available beginning at 5 p.m., and the Student Research Competition will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public, but only Ozark Section student members are eligible to participate in the research competition as a speaker. Students who wish to compete must be members in good standing of the IFT Ozark Section. To become a member, students must join both IFT and the Ozark Section. Student membership in IFT is $50 per year, and Ozark Section membership is $5 per year. Students can join through the IFT student membership page.

Competition categories include undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. Presentations will be delivered in an oral three-minute format, and entries will be evaluated by academic and industry professionals. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top two presenters in each category, as well as a People's Choice winner in each category.

The abstract submission deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Han-Seok Seo, president of Ozark Section, encouraged students to participate. "Please don't miss this valuable opportunity to learn about recent trends in food-related research and to meet food industry professionals and academic researchers through this event," Seo said.

• The abstract template is available here.
• Abstracts may be submitted here.

For questions, contact Seo at hanseok@uark.edu or Natalia Calderon, event coordinator, at nc036@uark.edu.