Lab Associate, Technical Evaluation

Osmo•Elizabeth, NJ

10d

About The Position

Osmo is a digital olfaction company, on a mission to give computers a sense of smell to improve the health and wellbeing of human life. Why? Our sense of smell both enriches and saves lives, and has a deep and direct connection to our emotions and memory. Olfactory Intelligence has applications across industries including fragrance, manufacturing, security, medicine, and more. We believe in the power of automation and thoughtfully applied AI/ML to solve problems beyond the reach of human intuition alone. Osmo is headquartered in New York, NY, with a new facility in New Jersey, and offices in Somerville, MA. Osmo is seeking a detail-oriented and olfactively capable Lab Associate (Technical Evaluation) to join our Technical Evaluation team. This hands-on role combines laboratory sample preparation with sensory evaluation. 60% of your time will be dedicated to lab work, preparing fragrance samples and maintaining lab workflows, and the remaining 40% will be focused on high-quality sensory evaluation through disciplined smelling and data annotation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Science, or a related scientific field (or equivalent hands-on lab experience).
Experience working in a laboratory environment, including sample preparation and adherence to safety protocols.
Demonstrated olfactory acuity and the ability to perceive and differentiate odors reliably (candidates will be required to pass a sensory screening).
Strong attention to detail and ability to follow standardized protocols consistently.
Ability to maintain focus during repetitive, detail-heavy tasks, including extended smelling sessions.
Clear communication skills and a collaborative, dependable working style.

Nice To Haves

Passion for fragrance, scent, or olfactory science.
Familiarity with perfumery ingredients or fragrance evaluation concepts.
Experience describing sensory perceptions using objective, non-hedonic language.
Interest in how sensory data supports scientific research, AI models, or product development.
Hands-on experience with Python / SQL and its key libraries and frameworks.

Responsibilities

Prepare fragrance samples and simple mixtures across a range of application bases (e.g., blotters, solutions, laundry or personal care matrices) for sensory testing.
Support packing and labeling of samples.
Assist with organizing chemical inventory, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring materials are prepared and available for testing.
Assist team members with the setup and execution of sensory panels, including sample preparation and panel logistics.
Follow strict safety protocols for handling, storing, and disposing of fragrance ingredients and chemical compounds.
Participate as a trained sensory panelist, spending dedicated time smelling and evaluating fragrance samples using Osmo’s internal protocols.
Support stability and performance testing by evaluating how fragrances evolve over time and under different conditions.
Maintain clear, accurate records of sample preparation, sensory evaluations, and lab activities.
Communicate observations and results clearly with cross-functional teams including perfumery, chemistry, and data science.
Participate in required training and calibration sessions to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with team standards.