Research Officer – Food Product Development

The Department:
The Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences is comprised of nine faculty members with research programs in the areas of food nutrigenomics, brewing, food/environmental microbiology, food chemistry and omics, food nanotechnology and emulsion science, food enzymology, lipid biotechnology, microbial bioproducts, protein, lipid and starch quality/utilization, bioprocessing, and value-added crop utilization. A fermentation pilot plant, bioprocessing pilot plant, food/ingredient processing pilot plant, sensory laboratory, product development kitchen, teaching laboratories and access to analytical and molecular biology suites is available within the Department to support research and teaching.

Primary Purpose:
The primary goal of the Research Officer (Food Product Development) position is to enhance research activities, teaching and learning, and industry/community extension in value-added ingredient utilization and food product development within the Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences (College of Agriculture and Bioresources).  The Specialist will also help support knowledge translation and IP mobilization of research arising from the Strategic Research Chair Program, alongside on-going activities of faculty within the Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences and other Departments/Colleges across campus.

Nature of Work:
The position will report to the Department Head of Food and Bioproduct Sciences within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources.  The successful candidate will have access to a food product development kitchen, sensory room, various pilot plants (e.g., meat/food pilot plant, bioprocessing pilot plant and fermentation pilot plant), along with ingredient analytical testing infrastructure/labs within the College and the Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre, as examples. Activities will mainly involve benchtop product formulation work in collaboration with internal/external client projects, and coordinating with scale up centers (e.g., POS Bio-Sciences, Saskatchewan Food Development Centre, etc.). The candidate will also contribute to grant/project writing, teaching and learning activities (interaction with students and trainees will be a major responsibility) and community outreach (e.g., workshops, webinars, engagement activities, etc.), all in the context of food ingredients/products. The successful individual will be required to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders. Any travel requirements associated with this position are expected to be minimal.

Accountabilities:
The successful individual will play a pivotal role in spearheading product development initiatives within internal teaching and research activities. This will entail cultivating industry client and extension projects, actively contributing to funding applications, and facilitating the dissemination of knowledge to industry stakeholders and within the scientific literature. Additionally, they will enhance the training and learning environment within the College, host workshops and webinars tailored to industry needs, and perform benchtop food formulation and prototyping work. Collaboration with scale-up organizations (e.g., POS Bio-Sciences, Saskatchewan Food Development Centre, etc.) is also expected.  The individual will be expected to undertake other duties as assigned.

Education:
Must have an earned M.Sc. in Food Science (or in a relevant discipline) together with at least 5 years (10 years or more is preferred) of product-development experience.

Experience:
Relevant product development experience will include the development of both plant and animal-based foods, ingredient utilization and product formulation.  Experience in the conduct of market-trend analyses and compliance with regulatory requirements will also be required.

Skills:
It is expected that the successful individual will have strong technical skills in food-product development. This will include benchtop laboratory work, experimental design, and ingredient formulation, along with processing flow and scale-up.  Oral and written communication skills will be paramount for developing and nurturing industrial client networks. The successful candidate will possess the necessary work experience, confidence and integrity to communicate with and advise industry stakeholders.  Experience in project management, mentorship, and leadership roles will further enhance the success of the candidate.

To Apply:
Interested applicants must include the following information in their application: a cover letter and an up-to-date curriculum vitae.

Dr. Darren Korber
Department Head, Food and Bioproduct Sciences
[email protected]

Department: Food & Bioproduct Sciences
Status: Term 2.5 years with the possibility of extension
Employment Group: Research Positions - Non-union
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1
Salary: The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 10
Posted Date: 4/16/2024
Closing Date: 4/30/2024
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus