Research Scientist I, Sweeteners - Decatur, IL

Archer Daniels Midland • Decatur, IL

15h

About The Position

Research Scientist, Sweeteners - Decatur, IL In this role, you will support the advancement of ADM’s sweetener portfolio, encompassing traditional sweeteners as well as both low- and no-calorie sweeteners. You will contribute to research and development efforts that drive innovation in sweetness systems, sugar reduction technologies, and formulation optimization. Working closely with senior scientists and cross-functional teams, you will assist in developing and characterizing sweetener solutions that deliver superior taste, stability, and functionality across diverse food and beverage applications. Your work will strengthen ADM’s leadership in carbohydrate and sweetener science by providing technical support, analytical insights, and formulation expertise to internal teams and external customers. You will engage with research partners and industry networks to stay informed of emerging trends and technologies in sweeteners and carbohydrate chemistry. This position offers the opportunity to grow as a scientific resource within ADM, developing your technical skills and contributing to projects that shape the future of sweetness innovation. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to advancing both traditional and next-generation sweetener technologies.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Carbohydrate Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in food ingredient research or product development, preferably involving sweeteners or carbohydrate-based systems.
• Basic understanding of sweetener chemistry, including both low/no-calorie and traditional sweeteners such as fructose, sucrose, and glucose syrups.
• Hands-on familiarity with analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, DSC, and refractometry for evaluating sweetener purity, stability, and functionality.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple laboratory tasks and data sets.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and basic statistical analysis software.
• Willingness to learn and collaborate in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with sensory evaluation or rheological measurements (e.g., viscometers or texture analyzers) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support research and development (R&D) projects focused on both low/no-calorie and traditional sweeteners, contributing to experimental design, data collection, and analysis under the guidance of senior scientists and commercial colleagues.
• Assist in the development and optimization of sweetener blends—including fructose, sucrose alternatives, and reduced-sugar systems—to achieve desired sensory and functional performance in food and beverage formulations.
• Conduct laboratory experiments to evaluate sweetness intensity, solubility, crystallization behavior, and stability of sweeteners within complex matrices.
• Contribute to research and formulation work across broader food systems—including dairy, bakery, and beverage matrices—to understand ingredient interactions, stability, and functionality beyond sweeteners.
• Utilize analytical instrumentation such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to characterize sweetener composition and performance.
• Participate in sensory and rheological evaluations to assess texture, mouthfeel, and overall product experience in reduced-sugar and traditional formulations.
• Collaborate with process development, applications, and analytical teams to support formulation scale-up and technical troubleshooting.
• Contribute to shelf-life and food matrix stability studies for both traditional and low/no-calorie sweeteners, ensuring accurate data documentation and reporting.
• Assist in preparing technical reports, presentations, and data summaries for internal stakeholders and customer discussions.
• Stay informed on scientific literature, competitive technologies, and market trends related to sweeteners and carbohydrate-based ingredients.
• Maintain safe laboratory practices and support compliance with all safety protocols in research and pilot facilities.

Benefits

• In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
• Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
• Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
• Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
• Additional benefits include:
• Paid time off including paid holidays.
• Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
• Tuition assistance.
• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
• Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level