Dick Scanlan earned his Ph.D. in Food Science from Oregon State University in 1967, and the promptly joined the OSU Food Science and Technology faculty. Scanlan, who made important contributions to the study of carcinogenic nitrosimine compounds in foods, chaired the department from 1985-1989. Scanlan later served as OSU's Dean of Research, a position that he filled from 1989 to his retirement in 1998.

This interview was conducted by Chris Petersen at the Scanlan home in Corvallis, Oregon. It is a component of the History of Science Oral History Collection (OH 17), Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries.