Feeding Tomorrow Honors Jonathan Sogin as Inaugural Elwood Caldwell Fellow

CHICAGO – April 21, 2021 – Feeding Tomorrow, the official Foundation of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), has selected Jonathan Sogin as the inaugural recipient of the Elwood Caldwell Graduate Fellowship. The Elwood Caldwell Graduate Fellowship was created as the result of a more than one million dollar endowment from IFT member Elwood Caldwell, Ph.D.  

The fellowship is for students currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in the science of food and will provide a generous stipend to students pursuing research focused on addressing the current and future needs and demands of the global food system. 

Jonathan Sogin is a doctoral candidate in food science and technology with a concentration in food microbiology. After earning a BSc in food science and technology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, he chose to pursue further study at Cornell University.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Feeding Tomorrow is thrilled to both support Jonathan’s academic pursuits and honor the career and legacy of long-time IFT member Dr. Elwood Caldwell,” said Justin Shimek, chair of Feeding Tomorrow. “Dr. Caldwell believed strongly that Feeding Tomorrow serves a valuable purpose and its support to the students of the science of food should be encouraged. With his partnership and generous bequest from his estate, we are able to put our mission into action.”

As a member of the Chicago Section of IFT, Dr. Caldwell established the Tanner Lectureship, which brings scientific speakers to the section. With the Minnesota Section of IFT, he was responsible for the beginning and subsequent growth of Minnesota’s Suppliers Night with over 250 exhibitors. Dr. Caldwell also chaired (and raised the initial funding for) the establishment of Minnesota’s Macy Award, which recognizes an outstanding example of food technology transfer or cooperation between scientists in academic, government and private industry.

Dr. Caldwell was the first recipient of the CSIFT Chairman’s Service Award, and in 1988 a recipient of a similar award from the Minnesota Section. He was a Fellow of IFT and, in 1991, was the recipient of the Calvert L. Willey award for distinguished service to the Institute. Caldwell passed away on May 22, 2018.

To learn more about the fellowship, please visit: https://www.ift.org/community/students/fellowships.