About the company:
Nature’s Fynd is a Chicago-based food company creating versatile alternative proteins to nourish the world’s growing population while nurturing the planet. Born out of research conducted for NASA on microbes in Yellowstone National Park, the company’s breakthrough technology produces Fy™. Fy is a new-to-the-world, nutritional fungi protein that only uses a fraction of the resources required by traditional agriculture. We use Fy to make delicious, nutritious, and sustainable meat and dairy alternatives.
Nature’s Fynd is a groundbreaking food tech company born out of NASA-supported research on extremophiles in the geothermal pools of Yellowstone National Park. Our novel fermentation technology produces a sustainable source of complete protein using only a fraction of the resources required by traditional agriculture. As the challenge to feed the world’s expanding population grows, our mission is to create amazing foods and materials that provide sustainable choices and nurture the planet.
We’re looking for passionate, driven, and ambitious people to join our fast-growing team.
As an Ingredient Processing Scientist at Nature’s Fynd, you will be a key member of the Engineering team serving as a subject matter expert for the engineering of functionality in our family of Fy protein ingredients. You will be responsible for advising on and determining the effects of production processes and equipment on Fy ingredient properties, and also coordinating and running experiments to improve ingredient functionality. You will also guide the deployment of process improvements from Pilot to Production scale. The majority of this job will be onsite, with possible intermittent travel to production facilities.
This position will be based in our Pilot Plant facilities located at 2075 W 43rd St in Chicago, IL.
Primary Responsibilities:
Determine and advise on effects of production processes on Fy ingredient structure and functionality across pilot and production scaleExplore new process equipment to induce novel ingredient functionalityWork cross-functionally to develop and execute experimental, sampling and characterization plansCollaborate with our R&D team to characterize compositional, structural and functional properties of Fy proteinUtilize model food systems to measure application-relevant ingredient performanceCollaborate with our Data Science team to automate experiments, characterization and analysis to increase experimental throughputProfessional Experience & Qualifications:
PhD preferred in chemical engineering, bioprocessing, and/or ingredient characterization, with at least one year of experience in an industrial R&D setting (or Master’s + 3 years)Hands-on experimental experience, particularly with DSP technologies and the ability to scale up and down while generating relevant insightsExperience with biomaterial characterization and analytical methods or demonstrated ability to learn relevant assays and techniquesStrong understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals and ability to develop models of mass transfer, heat transfer, and kineticsStrong data management and analytical skills including Design of Experiment methodology, preferably with the ability to develop data analysis pipelines in e.g. JMP, R, Python, etcStrong cross-functional communication skills; ability to communicate complex scientific results to a range of audiencesAbility to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced startup environmentBenefits:
Participation in Employee Stock Ownership Program100% paid employee benefits (medical, dental, vision)Generous Parental leave policyOpportunity to join a company with an aggressive growth trajectory that will revolutionize multiple industriesEngaging and dynamic work culture full of innovation and collaboration with your fellow FyndersCommitment To Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, And Belonging:
Nature’s Fynd views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and valuesEEO Statement:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law