National Centre for Food Manufacturing

Location:  Holbeach
Salary:   From £33,199 per annum
Please note this post is FTE 1.0 and fixed term until 30/09/2020
Closing Date:   Sunday 21 July 2019
Interview Date:   Wednesday 07 August 2019

We are seeking a Research Fellow with expertise in the food industry and consumer insights to join our dynamic team at the University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM). The Research Fellow will work across a range of projects funded by ERDF. Whilst primarily focused on food sustainability, market trends and consumer research with the opportunity to work across other food industry areas so that the role will provide a range of experiences.

A satellite campus of the University of Lincoln, The National Centre for Food Manufacturing is a major resource for the UK’s food industry with over 250 major companies accessing courses, technical services and research. Our clients include the major national and global food manufacturing businesses and leading supermarkets and we collaborate with many international partners and universities. The NCFM has outstanding sector-focused facilities, including a state-of-the-art food factory demonstrating cutting edge food automation.

The Research Fellow will contribute as a key role to our food insights and sustainability projects that focus on the evaluation of food products using sensory panels and food analytical techniques. Collating and reporting research from these analyses will be a key part of this role so the ability to carry out desk research, communications in different media and writing academic and industry papers will be essential competencies’ required for the Research Fellow role. The food insights and sustainability folio at NCFM has several studies in preparation for publication and the Research Fellow will have a key role for helping to deliver this. We have a vibrant communications folio, writing regularly for thought leading industry papers and it is expected that the Research Fellow will support these activities and become a key part of communicating to these channels from our research projects. Opportunities to work with other Researchers exploring food sustainability across the supply chain and analysing the use of innovative technologies exist. A practical knowledge of working with consumer panels and obtaining stakeholder information is an advantage.

The specific projects the Research Fellow will develop will involve developing supply chain models, projections and insight for food production through to consumption. A good understanding of Excel, databases and working with reported statistics is a definite advantage. A knowledge of geographical databases and programming would be an advantage but training will be provided.

The Research Fellow will ideally have a degree in a food science or business management discipline. Essential skills include: attention to detail, accurate record keeping, flexible attitude to work, proactive and willing to learn new skills and to undertake training on key pieces of equipment as required.

The data produced and analysed as part of the food insights and sustainability folio will be transferred to a range of outputs including publications and presentations therefore knowledge or experience of scientific writing is essential. Working with multidisciplinary team and industrial partners will be integral to this role, therefore effective communication and interpersonal skills are required.

Please note that this post requires an Enhanced DBS check

This post is FTE 1.0 and fixed term until 30/09/2020