Senior Scientist, Human Milk Research

Reckitt•Evansville, IN

1d•$99,000 - $149,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are Reckitt, home to the world's best loved and trusted hygiene, health, and nutrition brands. Our purpose defines why we exist: to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We are a global team united by this purpose. Join us in our fight to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness, and nourishment a right and not a privilege. In Research and Development, we're full of highly skilled talents that include Scientists, Engineers, Medical, Clinical and Regulatory professionals - all working to create a cleaner, healthier world. With nine Centres of Excellence, we continually seek out new opportunities by using science, our entrepreneurial flare and our fearless innovation to develop and enhance our existing portfolio, never compromising on quality or performance. We do the right thing, always, by ensuring we act with responsibility and integrity, by complying with regulatory legislation across the globe, whilst ensuring our products are safe for our consumers and are to the highest quality. The size of our organisation means you'll have the opportunity to learn and work in different functions within R&D, giving you exposure to different disciplines, teams and environments. You will also have access to our Research and Development Academy, designed to develop our team and allow you to grow in our great organisation. Human milk is a highly complex and dynamic biological system, and understanding its role in early-life health is a critical scientific priority. Mead Johnson Nutrition is seeking a Senior Scientist to join its Human Milk Preclinical Research team in Evansville, Indiana, to advance discovery science exploring how human milk shapes infant health outcomes. The first 1,000 days of life are a crucial period for neurocognitive, immune, and microbiome development, with lifelong implications, and human milk plays a central role in these processes. This role calls for deep expertise in milk biology and nutrition, along with proficiency in modern research tools and a passion for hypothesis-driven science. The successful candidate will design innovative studies, collaborate with leading academic and R&D partners, and translate scientific insights into real-world nutritional solutions that can impact global health across the lifespan.

Requirements

Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred, M.S. considered) in biology, nutrition, biochemistry, food science, or a related life science field
3+ years of research experience in human milk biology, lactation science, nutrition, or a closely related discipline
Expertise in analytical techniques (e.g., omics) and/or experimental biological models (in vitro, in vivo, in silico)
Hands-on laboratory mindset with willingness to actively engage in bench research
Demonstrated scientific impact through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, or patents
Experience managing and delivering successful research collaborations
Proficiency with digital tools and AI-enabled data analysis methods
Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, combined with curiosity, collaboration, and a focus on translating science into real-world impact

Nice To Haves

Commercial Awareness
Collaborator
Product Lifecycle Management
Regulatory
Ability to challenge the status quo
Propose improvement
Accountability
Adaptability
Business Strategy
Objective Setting
Consumer Needs
Change Leadership
Task Execution Under Pressure
Business Partnership
Collaboration
Partnership building

Responsibilities

Lead rigorous research on human milk composition, function, and its impact on infant and lifelong health outcomes
Design and execute innovative, hypothesis-driven experiments using advanced analytical platforms and biological models
Translate scientific discoveries into actionable product innovations across infant, child, and adult nutrition
Establish thought leadership through publications, conferences, and engagement in scientific forums
Build and maintain strategic collaborations with leading academic, clinical, and technology partners
Serve as a key scientific partner across R&D and business teams, ensuring innovations are grounded in strong evidence
Oversee global human milk biorepository operations, ensuring sample integrity, data quality, and ethical compliance
Leverage cutting-edge methods, including multi-omics and AI-driven analytics, to accelerate discovery and modernize research workflows