Steinberg, Marvin P. (1922-1990) | University of Illinois Archives

Marvin P. Steinberg (1922-1990) was Professor Emeritus of Food Engineering and Food Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Steinberg was an Instructor in the Department of Food Science in 1952. He became Assistant Professor in 1955, Associate Professor in 1958, and Full Professor in 1964. In 1979, Professor Steinberg held a joint appointment in the Department of Agricultural Engineering. Professor Steinberg was among the early pioneers in the field of food engineering and he designed this program at UIUC in its early days. He published over 130 papers, articles, and book chapters. He was an outstanding teacher and mentor to over 35 Master and Ph.D. students. Professor Steinberg served as an elected representative of the University Senate, two terms on the College of Agriculture Executive Committee, and numerous Department committees.

Marvin P. Steinberg was born on October 4, 1922 in Philadelphia. He received his B.S. (1943) and M.S. (1949) degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, and his Ph.D. (1953) in Food Science (formerly Food Technology) from UIUC, being one of the first Ph.D. candidates awarded a degree in this field. Steinberg was an Instructor in the Department of Food Science in 1952.

Inspired by the work of Chaim Weizmann and Orin Halvorson and their interdisciplinary research approach he always insisted on interactive and interdisciplinary research in his own work. His range of research project were wide and his achievements notable: among these were the retort pouch, dehydration of corn and meat; food products from whole soybeans including his work with A. I. Nelson and L. S. Wei on the Illinois Process Soymilk; water activity and semi-moist foods; conversion of animal waste to feed; and fuel alcohol.

Professor Steinberg received the Lady Davis Fellowship (1976) and the UIUC College of Agriculture Paul A. Funk award for his research (1980).

He was married to Esther R. Steinberg and they had three children: Lou (Rivka) Steinberg, Sue (Bruce) Aft, and Ruth (Warren) Solom.

Marvin P. Steinberg died January 23, 1990.