Scientist (Natural Flavor Ingredients )

IFF

2d•$101,550

About The Position

Are you ready to shape the future of natural flavor innovation through cutting-edge biotechnology and collaborative research? IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products. Taste: Crafting unique, technology-enabled flavor designs that define the identity of food and beverage brands, shape trends in flavor building, and fuel market success. IFF in Union Beach, NJ is seeking a Scientist – Upstream Development, Natural Flavor Ingredients to join our Food Biotech R&D team! It’s an exciting time to be part of IFF’s Food Biotech team. As a research scientist, you will play a pivotal role in the development of natural flavors and taste modulation ingredients aligned with corporate strategies and business goals. You will work semi-independently and within a highly collaborative team environment, contributing to upstream discovery and bio-based process development. Be part of an innovative and dynamic team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration. Where You’ll Make a Difference Advance technologies that transform sustainable raw materials into high-value flavor ingredients via microbial fermentation and biocatalysis Support lab and bench-scale process development for upstream discovery Design and conduct microbial strain screening experiments Perform instrumental analysis (GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS) to study flavor chemistry and molecular mechanisms Collaborate with flavorists, sensory scientists, and application teams to validate ingredient performance Support scale-up processes and assist in supply chain and regulatory review Write organized reports and present findings to cross-functional teams Review patents and scientific literature to propose aligned research initiatives

Requirements

Ph.D. in Food Science, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related field with 0–3 years of postdoctoral experience, or MS with 5+ years in industrial flavor research
Understanding of bioreactor principles and metabolic pathways
Experience with instrumental analysis (HPLC, GC-MS)
Strong knowledge of flavor chemistry and microbial strain screening
Experience in sensory evaluation (taste and smell)
Proficiency in statistical data analysis
Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and teamwork
Effective communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work in a cross-functional team environment

Nice To Haves

Industrial laboratory experience in fermentation and downstream processing
Experience with high-throughput screening for strains and metabolites
Knowledge of flavor fractionation and reconstitution for target profiles
Experience in molecular modeling and in silico screening of small molecules and peptides

Responsibilities

Advance technologies that transform sustainable raw materials into high-value flavor ingredients via microbial fermentation and biocatalysis
Support lab and bench-scale process development for upstream discovery
Design and conduct microbial strain screening experiments
Perform instrumental analysis (GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS) to study flavor chemistry and molecular mechanisms
Collaborate with flavorists, sensory scientists, and application teams to validate ingredient performance
Support scale-up processes and assist in supply chain and regulatory review
Write organized reports and present findings to cross-functional teams
Review patents and scientific literature to propose aligned research initiatives