Driscoll's · 2 weeks ago
Flavor Trait Discovery Scientist
Watsonville, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$80K/yr - $121K/yr
3+ years expDriscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, passionate about growing fresh, beautiful, and delicious berries. The Flavor Trait Discovery Scientist will lead a team to implement metabolomics technologies across berry crops to generate quality phenotypes, collaborating with various teams and ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards.
Food & Beverages
Responsibilities
Lead flavor chemistry and plant metabolomics discovery and validation studies
Lead and supervise activities of daily operation, maintenance, and quality control of Flavor Trait Discovery platforms and workstreams to ensure prompt turnaround from received sample to delivered result for trait development, genetic studies, phenotypic selection, and product development/differentiation
Interpret and report on chromatography and mass spectrometry data using metabolomics and cheminformatics approaches
Develop, perform, and optimize metabolite extraction and analytical chemistry workflows in berries
Stay current with emerging technologies in metabolomics to evaluate and integrate new tools that enhance throughput or resolution
Demonstrate consistent project leadership by fostering a collaborative and innovative environment to drive successful project outcomes, communicating progress regularly to project stakeholders through meetings and written reports
Lead and supervise regular updates and maintenance of lab databases to reflect accurate inventory and data collection workstreams
Perform data analysis, data reporting, and communicate findings through written, oral reports, and presentations
Support the Breeding Technology Lead in developing a rolling strategic roadmap of science activities to achieve organizational initiatives
Develop and deploy an annual tactical plan and capacity map of science activities to achieve organizational initiatives
Recruit and manage technical staff to ensure robust learning and career development consistent with the Company’s values
Keep a stocked, clean, and orderly laboratory to promote safety and productivity
Keep up-to-date digital lab notebooks and contribute to SOPs
Continually develop professional network, leadership, and technical skills through attendance of breeding summits, conferences, symposia, and workshops
Lead lab tours as needed
Domestic and international travel required as needed
Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. degree in flavor chemistry, plant biochemistry, molecular genetics, plant science, plant breeding or a similar discipline
4-6 years' experience in Research and Development, with 3-5 years' experience in flavor chemistry, plant metabolomics, and chemoinformatic, and 1-2 years' experience in plant molecular genetics
Prior academic or research laboratory experience
2+ years of people management experience
Experience operating and maintaining lab instrumentation such as gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy and liquid chromatography – mass spectroscopy is required
Demonstrated ability to develop and modify plant metabolomic workflows including sample preparation, metabolite extraction, instrument methods, and data analysis
Experience with statistical data analysis software e.g. JMP, R, SAS, etc
Ability to work with dynamic and diverse team of researchers and scientists
Be able to work in both a research lab and outdoor field environment
Be reliable, honest, and trustworthy, with advanced communication skills
Intermediate experience using spreadsheet application
Advanced experience supporting analytical workflows including sample preparation, instrument operation and maintenance
Must be able to lift 25 lbs
Preferred
Knowledge of plant biosynthetic pathways and genetic mechanisms is desired
Experience in the operation and maintenance of automated liquid handling robotics and their associated workflows desired
Hands-on experience with other analytical instrumentation such as FTIR, NIR, DESI, HRAM MS etc
Hands-on experience with various biological sample preparations and metabolite extractions is desired
Proficient in coding e.g. Python, R
Driver's license and the ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance program
A valid passport and ability to travel internationally without restrictions
Benefits
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Life insurance
Disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week (US)
401(k) with employer match
Profit-sharing participation
Paid sick time
Paid vacation
Paid personal and family care leave
Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company
Driscoll's
Driscoll’s is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Driscoll's has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (25)
2024 (22)
2023 (17)
2022 (10)
2021 (7)
2020 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Sanjeev Tandon
Chief Financial Officer
Shaily Sanghvi
CFO, Driscoll's of the Americas
Recent News
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