Summary
We’re looking for a principal/senior scientist in product development and innovation to help us create a more sustainable food system. You want to apply your scientific creativity to improve aged cheeses made from plants and develop new categories of fermented cheeses and other foods. You love getting your hands dirty in the kitchen and doing thoughtful science at the bench to really understand the discoveries that you make. Most importantly, you share our values. This position is based in Oakland, CA and offers competitive salary and equity.
About Plonts
Our food system represents a whopping 34% of global carbon emissions and is the primary driver of species extinction and deforestation. Within food, the biggest single problem is cows. Cows outweigh humans 🤯 and account for over 10% of carbon emissions. Dairy alone produces more carbon than all of aviation. But the problem is that cows and their milk taste really good, and no amount of guilt will ever stop us from devouring them. The only solution is to create sustainable products that are better than cows on two factors: taste and cost. Plonts is a public benefit corporation that discovers and designs microbial communities that transform inexpensive, sustainable plants into new categories of fermented foods. This approach allows us to create plant-based products that are absurdly delicious and cheaper than their animal-based counterparts. We are starting with the most resource-intensive and addictive dairy product: 🧀.
About The Position
You will be working with us to accelerate the discovery of cultured foods in our product innovation team. We find that we make the best products when we combine the power of scientific analysis with the creativity of human intuition. So when we approach product challenges, we take both bottom-up (building from fundamental principles in physics, chemistry, and biology to food products) and top-down (creating with science- and intuition-led product development and then working back to fundamental sciences) approaches. Our research team is a bunch of science nerds who love to develop products and product/food nerds who love to dive into science. This position falls in the latter camp. Some of your responsibilities will include:
Qualifications
What do you get out of it?
If interested, what should you do?
We build relationships thoughtfully, and this approach takes time. Over multiple conversations, we will seek to understand how we can support you, and hopefully you will find out whether we are a good fit for your goals or simply a bunch of nutcases.
To apply, please email join@plonts.com with a resume and responses to the following prompts (a conversational, unpolished tone is fine):
Plonts is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. But we acknowledge that we are flawed humans within a flawed society. We do our best and apologize and learn when that’s not enough.