R&D Scientist
About The Position
As a Scientist within Kerry’s Protection & Preservation RD&A team, you will play a key role in optimizing existing products and supporting the development of new solutions for the control of spoilage organisms and foodborne pathogens. This position supports both end‑use market projects and strategic initiatives, applying the latest scientific and technical knowledge to advance Kerry’s Food Protection strategy. You will work closely with Food Scientists, Microbiologists, and Business Development experts to deliver innovative preservation solutions across a broad range of food applications. The role involves hands‑on laboratory work, project ownership, and collaboration with internal and external scientific partners.
Requirements
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Food Microbiology, Food Safety, or a related scientific discipline
- 1–5 years of experience in the food preservation or food microbiology field
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with meat, bakery, or savory applications is preferred
- Experience with microbial modeling is a plus
Responsibilities
- Design, set up, manage, and execute microbial studies in broth systems and food applications, including challenge studies, shelf‑life studies, and inactivation studies across a wide range of food matrices
- Evaluate and validate the performance of Kerry’s clean‑label and conventional antimicrobial solutions, benchmarking against competing technologies
- Coordinate external third‑party challenge studies, including material preparation, study design input, data handling, and reporting
- Analyze experimental data, draw clear conclusions, and communicate results effectively to internal stakeholders including RD&A, Business Development, Product Management, and Sales
- Conduct periodic reviews of internal microbial challenge study databases and present insights to Technical Business Development leaders to identify commercially relevant data gaps
- Build strong working relationships with RD&A colleagues across Kerry Taste & Nutrition food science teams
- Develop and maintain external networks with research institutes, universities, and contract laboratories to support the Food Protection strategy
- Support and execute Food Protection strategy plans to meet business and innovation objectives
- Stay current with scientific advancements by conducting literature reviews and participating in industry conferences, scientific forums, and online communities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
