Ph.D., Adjunct Professor
Graduate Faculty Member for Food Science
Graduate Faculty Member for Nutrition
Faculty Advisor to Phi Tau Sigma, Honorary Society in Food Science and Technology
[email protected]
1334 Eckles Avenue
SAINT PAUL, MN 55108
United States
Areas of Interest
- Functional Foods
- Weight Management
- Medical Foods
- Dietary Supplements
- Food Laws and Regulations
Biography
Dr. Schmidl is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota where her focus is on functional foods, weight management, dietary supplements and their impact on global public health and wellness. Dr. Mary K. Schmidl has had a distinguished career as a scientist, research director, educator and leader to public and private agencies both in the US and around the world for more than 50 years. She is the former Vice President of Science and Technology for the Humanetics Corporation where she was responsible for new drug discovery as well as innovative ingredient development along with regulatory affairs. She was the Director of Research, Clinical Division of Novartis (Nestle, Inc.) which manufactures special dietary foods, weight management products, medical food products and medical devices. Prior to her work with Nestle, Dr. Schmidl directed the Nutrition Research Department for AG Bayer and was involved with intravenous feeding systems and medical foods. She has commercialized more than 75 new products, authored or co-authored over 100 refereed research papers, magazine articles, patents, book chapters, books and is highly sought after as an international speaker. She is the co-author of the book: Essentials of Functional Foods. Dr. Schmidl received the Babcock Hart Award for Nutrition in 1993 from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the Carl R. Fellers Award in 2012 for the honor, recognition and service she has brought to her profession. In 1995 she received the Award of Distinction from the University of California-Davis and in 2008 the “Friendship Award” and “Science Spirit Award” (2014) from the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology for the development of international relationships to foster global cooperation in food science and nutrition and holds a visiting professorship appointed at Jiangnan University in China. Mary has been elected a Fellow of IFT and served as its President in 2000-2001. She was elected Fellow of IUFoST and the United Kingdom’s Institute of Food Science and Technology. In 2012 the University of Georgia has selected her to present the Woodroof Lectureship for on her leadership contributions and in 2013-14 President of Phi Tau Sigma, The Honor Society of Food Science and Technology. Dr. Schmidl has served on numerous Boards for governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector including the Board of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents (CSSP), an organization representing 1.5 million scientists throughout the world, the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) and served on the European Union’s Advisory Board for Food RisC Communication.
Teaching
FSCN 1102 Food Safety, Risks and Technology (guest lecturer)
FSCN 5693 Designer and Medical Foods
PH 3905/6905 Public Health Aspects of Nutritional Policy (guest lecturer)
FSCN 8318 Current Issues in Food Science
FSCN 5404 Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods and Dietary Supplements
Select Publications
Experts@Minnesota Research Profile
Mary K. Schmidl at Google Scholar
Honors and Awards
California Scholarship Federation, 1969
USDA Graduate Student Fellowship,1974 - 1978
IFT/ILSI Babcock Hart Award for Nutrition and Public Health, 1993
Live Oak High School Wall of Pride (First Recipient), 1995
University of California Award of Distinction, 1995
Fellow, Institute of Food Technologists, 1996
Scientific and Distinguished Lecturer for IFT, 1998 - 2008
Florida State University Stiebling Lecturer, 1999
Fellow, International Academy of Food Science and Technology, 2001
Fellow, Institute of Food Science and Technology (UK), 2002
Chinese IFST, Friendship Award, 2008
University of Georgia Woodroof Lectureship, 2012
Chinese IFST, Scientific Spirit Award, 2014
IUFoST President, 2018 - 2020
Louisiana State University Patrick Lectureship, 2016
Phi Tau Sigma Special Recognition Award, 2019
Minnesota IFT President's Award, 2020
University of Minnesota, Borealis Award Winner 2023
Professional Duties (Past and Present)
Minnesota IFT, President, 1987, 2016
IFT President, Nutrition Division, IFT 1992 -1993
Associate Editor of Journal of Food Science, 1998 - 2003
IFT President, 2000 - 2001
Visiting Professor, Jiangnan University, 2012
Phi Tau Sigma, President, 2013 -2014
President, Phi Tau Sigma, University of Minnesota Chapter, 2014
University of California-Davis, Advisory Board Member, 2015 - Present
IUFoST President, 2018 - 2020
Treasurer, Phi Tau Sigma, 2025 - Present
IUFoST, Executive Committee, 2026