Senior Research Scientist - Decatur, IL

Decatur IL - Illinois Research & Development Job Description Research Scientist, Carbohydrate and Biobased Materials Innovation In this position, you will be at the forefront of innovation, providing technical and project leadership that extend far beyond the ordinary! In this role you will focus on development of both food and non-food applications that include, but are not limited to, advanced materials, construction, fermentation, plant care, packaging and papers, and personal care.
You will lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams to spearhead the creation of brand-new ingredients and systems, steering them towards commercial success.
Your work will be the cornerstone of enhancing the value of ingredients through an intricate understanding of the chemistry, characterization and functionality of ingredients and bioderived materials.
Your expertise will not only benefit our organization but also support our valued customers, providing them with insights into the functionality of carbohydrate derived products.
In this role, you'll become a well-connected expert, fostering relationships with suppliers, trade associations, universities, and research facilities.
Your goal? Staying ahead of the curve by continuously monitoring new developments, methods, and innovations related to carbohydrates.
This role offers you a chance to be recognized as a high-level scientific resource, utilizing your skills to develop and champion independent ideas that lead to successful project completion.
If you're ready to be at the forefront of scientific progress, driving innovation, and making a significant impact, then this is the job for you! Join us on this exciting journey to shape the future of carbohydrate platforms.
Job Responsibilities Drive projects by providing project leadership and direction in both applied science and new product development.
Work interactively with other groups including process development, applications, and business groups.
Use carbohydrate science expertise to proactively develop and progress ideas for new product innovations to drive future business growth through new product development and understanding customer application.
Design experiments to promote the understanding of carbohydrate ingredients and their interaction in non-food applications.
Perform chemical and physical modification of raw materials utilizing chemical reactors and/or extrusion and conventional mixing technologies Develop materials to communicate structure and function of carbohydrate ingredients both internally and externally.
Lead projects for diverse technical teams utilizing gated project management tools Conduct and derive value from experimental programs utilizing design of experiment (DOE) software Report on status of research activities through verbal updates, written reports, and presentations Utilize advanced scientific techniques (e.
g.
NMR, x-ray diffraction, DSC, imaging) to elucidate molecular interactions and functionality of carbohydrates and complex systems.
Ensure safe working practice in research labs, pilot plants, and manufacturing facilities to meet or exceed safety goals.
Job Requirements PhD degree or master’s in Organic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Engineering, or related field At least 5 years of industrial experience in biobased materials and sustainability that includes but is not limited to packaging and papers, construction, fermentation, plant care, home and personal care industry.
Industry experience including experience in starch, cellulose and other natural products.
Expertise and hands on experience with extrusion of natural products including complex carbohydrates is strongly desired Knowledge and experience with wide range of analytical instrumentation and carbohydrate characterization methods Knowledge of safe hazardous material handling and hazardous communication requirements and procedures Solid understanding of statistical software, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Microsoft Office Ability to travel up to 20% Excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement listed? Studies show that often applicants will self-select out if they don’t check every box.
We encourage you to apply anyway.
You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.
ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.
REF:83290BR Benefits and Perks Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues.
In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including: Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
Additional benefits include: Paid time off including paid holidays.
Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
Tuition assistance.
Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.
#IncludingYou Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance.
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career.
We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.
We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our industry, as we strive to ensure our workforce represents the world that we help to feed: people of color, women, gender non-conforming, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities.
For more information regarding our efforts to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, please visit our website here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | ADM.
#LI-Onsite About ADM: ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life.
We're a premier global human and animal nutrition company, delivering solutions today with an eye to the future.
We're blazing new trails in health and well-being as our scientists develop groundbreaking products to support healthier living.
We're a cutting-edge innovator leading the way to a new future of plant-based consumer and industrial solutions to replace petroleum-based products.
We're an unmatched agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities.
And we're a leader in sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help decarbonize our industry and safeguard our planet.
From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional and sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow.
Learn more at www.
adm.
com.
Ref ID #LI-AS5