Gavin Sacks

Chair and Professor, Food Science

man wearing a blue button up shirt with a tie

Our lab is interested in developing and applying new tools for analysis of flavor compounds, especially in wine and other alcoholic beverages.

Education

Doctorate - Cornell University, Chemistry and Chemical Biology - 2005
Masters of Science - Cornell University, Chemistry and Chemical Biology - 2001
Bachelor of Science - University of Virginia, Chemistry - 1999

Courses Taught

VIEN 2400 (co-meet with FDSC2400, VIEN5400, FDSC5400): Wine & Grapes: Composition and Analysis
VIEN 4400 (co-meet with FDSC4400, VIEN6400, FDSC6400): Wine and Grape Flavor Chemistry
VIEN 4970: Individual Study in Viticulture and Enology
VIEN 4990: Undergraduate Research in Viticulture and Enology
FDSC 9900: Doctoral-Level Thesis Research

Contact Information

M10H Stocking Hall

Ithaca, NY 14853

(607) 255-2335

gls9 [at] cornell.edu

- Lab Website
- Publications

Gavin in the news

A researcher harvesting grapes in a vineyard

News

November 11, 2025

Cornell creates transformative tech for wine industry

A new platform slashes screening time for the hundreds of grape samples E&J Gallo Winery collects during harvest - the latest milestone in a partnership that benefits the entire grape and wine industry.

Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
Food Science
Viticulture and Enology

Members of the Bad Bees for Business team pose with their product before their pitch at the 2023 Food Hackathon held at Stocking Hall.

News

November 5, 2025

Food Hackathon students turn their ideas into delicious reality

Entrepreneurial Cornell students compete in the annual food hackathon, but then what? Their prototypes gain new ways to become reality.

Food Science
Food