Senior Scientist, Fungal Molecular Biology

The Short version

Biotechnology has a central role in transforming the chemical industry from being petrol- based to bio-based. IFF Biotechnology applies expert science to advance market-driven, healthy, and sustainable solutions for fragrance, home & personal care, food & beverage, dietary supplement, and animal health industries. We use cutting-edge science across a range of markets to advance bio-based solutions to meet the needs of a growing population while protecting our environment for future generations. We are innovative solvers who help our customers turn challenges into high-value business opportunities. We are looking for a fungal molecular biologist, physiologist, or geneticist to accelerate our fungal strain improvement efforts and we hope that is you!

Who we are:

IFF is an industry leader in fragrance, food, beverage, health and biosciences. Here, science and creativity meet to create essential solutions for a better world. IFF Wilmington Delaware (at the Experimental Station Technology and Innovation Center) is a state-of-the-art biotechnology R&D lab.

Our R&D team develops innovative biobased solutions using microbial cell factories and enzymes in the areas of fragrance, home & personal care, food & beverage, animal health, and more.

The Position:

We are looking for a highly motivated and outstanding fungal physiologist, molecular biologist, or geneticist to become part of a core group of experienced scientists working on projects involved in engineering fungal hosts for industrial production. This position is based in Wilmington, DE. Candidates must have proven experience and a strong foundation in fungal biology, molecular biology, and genetics. Familiarity with biochemistry, automation, and bioinformatics is desirable. This will be a predominantly lab-based role.

Responsibilities:

• Drive project-related workstreams using cutting edge scientific techniques in molecular biology, genetics, and physiology.
• Design and execute experiments identifying traits and strains with improved properties for industrial production.
• Support optimization, analysis, and improvement of strains on -omics data analysis using molecular editing tools.
• Identify, investigate, and implement new and emerging technologies in relevant fields.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team to achieve project goals and deliveries.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate bioconversion processes into scalable production workflows.
• Prepare technical reports, data summaries, presentations, protocols, and other technical and regulatory documents.
• Participate in developing the intellectual property strategy and file patent applications in collaboration with peers and the legal team.
• Supervise and mentor junior scientists and technicians and foster a collaborative and productive work environment.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in fungal biology/molecular biology/genetics/physiology.
• Strong background in fungal biology and genetics.
• Experience with high-throughput screening techniques and data analysis
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including cloning, expression, and genome engineering
• 1-3 years of experience conducting laboratory research in an industry or academic research lab.
• Hands-on-mentality and a strong affinity for lab work.
• Goal oriented and capable of task-oriented leadership.
• Excellent team player and interpersonal skills.
• Creativity, curiosity, and passion for scientific discovery and innovation
• Ability to be effective in a growing, dynamic, and changing business environment.
• Fluent in both written and spoken English.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more