Formulation Scale-up Scientist

About Loam:

At Loam, we have the earth in our hands. As a team of scientists, farmers, and entrepreneurs, we are on a mission to revolutionise agriculture and address climate change. Through our cutting-edge microbial technology, we are enhancing soil health, boosting crop yields, and sequestering carbon to create a sustainable future for farming. We are committed to empowering farmers and promoting regenerative practices that benefit both the environment and their bottom line.

As a fast-growing agricultural startup, Loam offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment where innovation and passion thrive. We embrace diversity and believe that our collective expertise and shared commitment can make a significant impact on the global agricultural landscape.

Join us on this exciting journey as we transform agriculture and build a sustainable future together.

About the Role:

As a Formulation Scale-up Scientist at Loam, you will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between our Research & Development efforts and Production to bring Loam Bio’s microbial products to the market. This position involves a blend of hands-on laboratory work, collaboration with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and the exploration of novel formulation concepts. You will be instrumental in translating small-scale R&D successes into commercially viable products, ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and meet our high-quality standards.

Important: This is an onsite, in-person position.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the transition of R&D findings to large-scale production, collaborating with CMOs to ensure efficient scale-up while meeting product specifications and achieving commercial viability.
• Conduct and execute your own laboratory experiments for scale-up processes, focusing on formulating, optimizing, stability testing, and directly solving scale-up issues.
• Investigate and develop innovative formulation concepts by staying abreast of industry trends and scientific advancements, and experimenting with new techniques or materials to potentially create proprietary technologies for Loam.
• Manage communication and collaboration effectively with project leads, collaborators, and external partners throughout the scale-up process, ensuring project milestones are achieved through regular updates and technical discussions.
• Participate in networking opportunities and maintain active collaboration through various communication channels. Travel as necessary to meet partners, attend conferences, and visit CMO sites up to 20% of the time.
• Apply specialized expertise in microbial dry formulations for agriculture, with a deep understanding of the effects of dry processing equipment on microbial viability and product efficacy.
• Provide mentorship and training to junior staff members, ensuring they possess the skills and knowledge required for effective team contribution, while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Uphold high standards of documentation, recording all experimental work accurately in lab notebooks and project reports, in adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Remain informed about the latest developments in formulation science and delivery systems, collaborating with external entities to evaluate and potentially integrate new technologies into Loam's product development pipeline.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in Chemistry, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline. Advanced degrees are preferred and relevant experience is also highly valued.
• Significant professional experience working across formulation and scale-up in scientific environments.
• Proficient in microbial laboratory techniques, including sterile methods, meticulous record-keeping, and strict adherence to experimental protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to meet ambitious project timelines, coupled with effective communication skills to liaise with project leads and collaborators.
• Prior experience in microbial formulations, especially dry formulations used in agriculture, is essential.
• Deep understanding of dry processing equipment (e.g., mills, blenders, granulation devices) and their impact on microbial viability and product stability.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards in laboratory notebook documentation and reporting.
• A proactive approach to staying informed about the latest advances in formulation science and delivery system technologies.
• Experience in collaborating with external entities, such as companies or academic institutions, to assess innovative technologies for agricultural applications

Benefits

• Competitive salary package

• Rich benefit plan design consisting of low employee premiums for health, with the employer covering 100% of the premium for the employee (only) Dental and Vision, short and long term disability and Flexible Spending Account for medical and dependent care. 
• Generous Paid Time Off; including your Birthday + 13 paid company holidays
• 100% employer 401k match, up to 6%, fully vested on day one

Why you should join us:

We're tackling some of the most challenging issues of our time, and we're doing it with a team that's passionate about making a difference. If you're looking for a role where you can use your skills to contribute to a mission that matters, we'd love to hear from you.

Loam Bio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic.