Job Summary

The IFF Nutrition & Biosciences plant located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA manufactures a variety of food products and ingredients used in everyday food items, many of them found in local grocery stores including: starter cultures used in the production of cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream; probiotic cultures used for their health promoting effects on the digestive system of humans and animals; and other food ingredients such as food antioxidants for food preservation and enzymes used in cheese manufacturing.

We are looking for an Associate Scientist to join our Process R&D Probiotics, Cultures, Food Protection Team! The candidate selected will provide support for process development for U.S. sites including troubleshooting, improvements, transfers of processes, and manufacturing data ownership. There will be an emphasis on fermentation and analytical methods. The focus will be on improvement of process yields, product performance, and reduction of costs.

Essential Functions of this position include (but are not limited to):
• Support lab-scale development and implementation of cost-effective manufacturing conditions impacting fermentate titer, quality, yield, and applications performance
• Perform routine laboratory tasks and experimental work. These tasks will include media making, basic microbiology associated with seed transfers, fermentation set up and inoculation, microscopic evaluation of cells, analytical sample preparation, starting and running analytic equipment, rotary evaporator, and spray dryer, measuring water activities, and plating and enumeration of cells.
• Execute analytical methods for a variety of equipment, including HPLC and YSI, and gather and analyze data
• Support analytical equipment through troubleshooting and coordination of preventative maintenance plans
• Ensure accurate execution and implementation of lab work by designing experiments, conducting experiments/trials, analyzing results and reporting results
• Perform statistical analysis on strain performance/analytics and communicate performance trends. Communicate data through email and presentations.
• Investigate product deviations
• Follow process data and product quality after industrialization. Evaluate and troubleshoot problems that may arise in improved processes
• Support transfer of product across sites and transfer of new processes/products from Process R&D to production in collaboration with Business, Operations, Quality, and R&D teams
• Evaluate and troubleshoot problems that may arise in new processes or in established processes. Serve as a technical resource to the manufacturing facilities to provide input and direction on important product/process/quality issues and support continued product quality improvement. Participate in important "fire-fighting" efforts to quickly resolve problems, satisfy our customers and maintain the business
• Flexibility to support occasional off-hour coverage including weekends

A successful candidate will possess the following:
• Degree in chemistry, bioprocess, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemical/process engineering, or related degree with industry experience
o Bachelor's degree + 3-5 years of experience
o Master's preferred
• Fundamental understanding of lactic acid and propionic bacteria physiology, separation technology, spray-drying, and microbial fermentations, as well as process equipment functioning (strongly preferred)
• Experience with various analytical equipment/methods (HPLC is strongly preferred)
• Strong communication (verbal and written), organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to independently design, ambitiously carry-out, and report the results of scientific experiments
• Familiarity with project management techniques and Six Sigma Greenbelt tools
• Knowledge and experience with ERP systems, specifically SAP

The IFF Nutrition & Biosciences plant located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA manufactures a variety of food products and ingredients used in everyday food items, many of them found in local grocery stores including: starter cultures used in the production of cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream; probiotic cultures used for their health promoting effects on the digestive system of humans and animals; and other food ingredients such as food antioxidants for food preservation and enzymes used in cheese manufacturing. 

We are looking for an Associate Scientist to join our Process R&D Probiotics, Cultures, Food Protection Team! The candidate selected will provide support for process development for U.S. sites including troubleshooting, improvements, transfers of processes, and manufacturing data ownership. There will be an emphasis on fermentation and analytical methods. The focus will be on improvement of process yields, product performance, and reduction of costs.

Essential Functions of this position include (but are not limited to):

Support lab-scale development and implementation of cost-effective manufacturing conditions impacting fermentate titer, quality, yield, and applications performancePerform routine laboratory tasks and experimental work. These tasks will include media making, basic microbiology associated with seed transfers, fermentation set up and inoculation, microscopic evaluation of cells, analytical sample preparation, starting and running analytic equipment, rotary evaporator, and spray dryer, measuring water activities, and plating and enumeration of cells.Execute analytical methods for a variety of equipment, including HPLC and YSI, and gather and analyze dataSupport analytical equipment through troubleshooting and coordination of preventative maintenance plansEnsure accurate execution and implementation of lab work by designing experiments, conducting experiments/trials, analyzing results and reporting resultsPerform statistical analysis on strain performance/analytics and communicate performance trends. Communicate data through email and presentations.Investigate product deviationsFollow process data and product quality after industrialization.  Evaluate and troubleshoot problems that may arise in improved processesSupport transfer of product across sites and transfer of new processes/products from Process R&D to production in collaboration with Business, Operations, Quality, and R&D teamsEvaluate and troubleshoot problems that may arise in new processes or in established processes.  Serve as a technical resource to the manufacturing facilities to provide input and direction on important product/process/quality issues and support continued product quality improvement.  Participate in important "fire-fighting" efforts to quickly resolve problems, satisfy our customers and maintain the businessFlexibility to support occasional off-hour coverage including weekends

A successful candidate will possess the following:

Degree in chemistry, bioprocess, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemical/process engineering, or related degree with industry experienceBachelor's degree + 3-5 years of experienceMaster's preferredFundamental understanding of lactic acid and propionic bacteria physiology, separation technology, spray-drying, and microbial fermentations, as well as process equipment functioning (strongly preferred)Experience with various analytical equipment/methods (HPLC is strongly preferred)Strong communication (verbal and written), organizational, and interpersonal skillsAbility to independently design, ambitiously carry-out, and report the results of scientific experimentsFamiliarity with project management techniques and Six Sigma Greenbelt toolsKnowledge and experience with ERP systems, specifically SAP

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more