Scientific careers at the Agency
Good science is fundamental to the Food Standards Agency and how it fulfils its responsibilities. Policy development is driven by the best science, much of which the Agency commissions to feed into its decision-making processes.
The scientists and technologists who work for the Agency have a wide range of scientific and technological knowledge and experience, which they use in a variety of roles. These include: commissioning research for the Agency, arranging surveys, monitoring scientific knowledge in the fields that affect the Agency's work, developing science policy for the Agency and checking the advice it gives.
For example, Toxicology is essential for assessing the safety of chemicals in food.The BTS is the professional body of UK toxicologists, and most of the toxicologists at FSA are members. The Agency supports the training of toxicologists by providing a silver-level donation (£2000 in 2008) to the British Toxicology Society.
People join the Agency at different stages in their careers, sometimes straight from gaining science qualifications, sometimes after several years in industry or research.
Find out more about some of the scientists who work for the Agency by reading their profiles below.
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James Ridsdale
I am a Senior Scientific Officer in Novel Foods, Additives and Supplements Division. The branch I work in has responsibility for UK Government policy on additives in food. My job has two aspects.
Judith Hilton
I am head of the Agency's Microbiological Safety Division and my job takes in policy and science, management and leadership.
Kate May
I am a scientific officer in the Food Supplements, GM Labelling and GM/Novel Foods Research Branch of the Agency’s Novel Foods, Additives and Supplements Division.
Mary Stather
I am a scientific officer in the Diet and Nutrition Surveys Branch of the Agency’s Nutrition Division. The main activity of my Branch is working on the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), which gathers information on food consumption, nutrient intakes and nutritional status of the British population in order to develop nutrition policy and track progress toward dietary objectives.
Sarah Hardy
I work as a higher scientific officer in the Food Allergy Branch, where I act as a project officer for a number of food allergy and intolerance research projects.