Sr. Scientist, Analytical R&D

About us

At the forefront of farming and food, UPSIDE Foods is innovating new ways to produce real meat, without the need to breed, feed and slaughter animals. Our process begins with an animal cell, which is cultivated and harvested as meat. The founding company of the industry, UPSIDE Foods is a mission-driven organization focused on bringing to meat lovers an authentic product that is truly humane, sustainably produced, nutritious and delicious! We are now expanding our team of dedicated professionals across disciplines to make better meat for a better world.

About this job

UPSIDE is seeking a highly motivated Sr. Scientist to lead analytical projects focused on method development, assay execution, and overall testing strategies for cultivated meat. The Sr. Scientist with extensive experience in chromatography and assay development will be responsible for contributing to or leading cross-functional analytical projects and offer scientific support to process development, product development, and regulatory objectives. This individual will work within the highly collaborative Analytical R&D team and with critical internal collaborators to scope out analytical needs and establish execution plans. The Sr. Scientist will independently perform due diligence, design and execute experiments, analyze and interpret data, communicate results, and make recommendations to drive forward the development and validation of new analytical methods. This is a laboratory-based position for an innovative, enthusiastic individual who enjoys fast-paced work, and who is an effective leader, strong scientific communicator, and subject matter expert in the field of analytical chemistry.

Responsibilities include...

• Survey the literature and other resources to understand the current state-of-the-art and creative solutions for analytical methods to apply to existing research objectives; serve as a subject matter expert for analytical chemistry topics to assist in cross-collaborative problem solving
• Make recommendations for platforms, including equipment and instrumentation, to achieve analytical objectives
• Execute sample preparation optimization, method development, and validation studies to enable method readiness in the Analytical R&D laboratory, including managing data analysis and reporting
• Write standard operating procedures and train junior team members to execute the assays for routine analysis; potential for direct reports
• Work independently and cross-functionally to review and frame analytical problems and establish a course of action/experimentation
• Balance and prioritize multiple tasks and objectives, including resource management

About you...

• Ph.D. in Chemistry (preferably with a focus in Analytical Chemistry) or related field with 5+ years of related professional experience, or M.S. with 12+ years of experience
• Extensive hands-on experience across multiple analytical instruments, including HPLC, GC, and ICP-MS; specifically, this role will require expertise in chromatography 
• Extensive hands-on experience with various wet chemistry techniques related to analytical methodology and other laboratory practices
• Experienced in developing analytical methods, including validation and deployment
• Commitment to safety and good laboratory practices
• Desire to grow as a leader with a small team to establish foundational analytical capabilities, including onboarding new instrumentation and mentoring team members

Who you'll work with

• Primary contact will be with the Analytical R&D team
• Collaborate with internal customers across R&D, Production, Regulatory, and Quality to understand analytical needs and execute analysis as needed
• Collaborate with external vendors, consultants, and partners as needed to achieve project-specific goals

Key contributions in the first year

• Establish new micronutrients and small molecule assays on chromatography instruments, such as HPLC and GC-FID
• Help onboard new analytical instrumentation and develop methods to transfer to routine workflows
• Assist in the development, verification, and deployment of other analytical platforms for unique R&D needs, such as wet chemistry methods
• Perform due diligence to scope out additional analytical needs based on research initiatives
• Support the Analytical R&D team and broader R&D Organization as a subject matter expert and thought leader to solve scientific challenges related to analytics

UPSIDE Benefits!

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 90-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Council and People Engagement Programs
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.