Sensory & Consumer Scientist
About The Position
The Sensory Evaluation Center (SEC) in the Department of Food Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking a full-time Sensory & Consumer Scientist (Research Project Manager – Intermediate Professional or Professional Level) to manage studies for academic research and industrial clients, including creating experimental designs, training student workers, scheduling and executing studies, data analysis and archiving, and reporting of study results. The work is fast paced, as the facility tests several hundred people in a typical week. Internal clients include graduate students and faculty in Food Science and/or other departments in the College of Agricultural Sciences. External clients include large multinational corporations and smaller food companies within Pennsylvania. Oversight and technical guidance are provided by the SEC Director (Dr. John Hayes) and Associate Director (Dr. Helene Hopfer), but the successful individual will be expected to make routine decisions and allocate resources without direct supervisory input. Daily activities include fielding inquiries from clients, advising on research designs, developing project proposals for clients using existing templates, and generating technical reports of results upon project completion. Other activities include creating standard operating procedures for sensory tests, hiring and training student workers, leading creation of training materials for support staff, organizing short course and outreach activities, assuring regulatory compliance, including preparation, submission and documentation of protocols for Human Subjects Protection and Lab Safety. The successful individual will also present data at conferences and coauthor peer reviewed papers as appropriate.
Requirements
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and written and oral communication skills are essential.
- Attention to detail and good project management skills are vital requirements.
- Ability to work in a team environment across multiple levels of experience and seniority.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Dietetics, Psychology, Market Research, Culinary Arts or other related area is preferred but not required.
- PhD Preferred.
- Experience with Compusense Cloud (or comparable software like RedJade, FIZZ, or SIMS).
- Working knowledge of Sensory & Consumer Science testing methods (preference, acceptance, difference testing, JAR and penalty analysis, QDA and Spectrum Descriptive Analysis) and/or statistical software like R/SAS/SPSS/JMP/XL Stat.
- Experience with Focus Groups (remote / in person) is strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Manage studies for academic research and industrial clients.
- Create experimental designs.
- Train student workers.
- Schedule and execute studies.
- Perform data analysis and archiving.
- Report study results.
- Field inquiries from clients.
- Advise on research designs.
- Develop project proposals for clients using existing templates.
- Generate technical reports of results upon project completion.
- Create standard operating procedures for sensory tests.
- Hire and train student workers.
- Lead creation of training materials for support staff.
- Organize short course and outreach activities.
- Assure regulatory compliance, including preparation, submission and documentation of protocols for Human Subjects Protection and Lab Safety.
- Present data at conferences.
- Coauthor peer reviewed papers as appropriate.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Robust retirement plans.
- Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
- 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
