FOOD APPLICATIONS SCIENTIST

Are you passionate about science, innovation, and helping customers solve complex formulation challenges? Grain Processing Corporation (GPC), a KENT WORLDWIDE™ company, is seeking an Applications Scientist to join our Technical Solutions group on the Innovative Solutions team in Muscatine, Iowa. This on-site role serves as a key customer-facing technical resource, partnering with commercial teams, customers, and industry stakeholders to demonstrate the value and performance of GPC ingredients across food, nutraceutical, and personal care applications. In this highly collaborative position, you will support sales growth and business development through technical consultations, customer presentations, product demonstrations, trade shows, and application expertise. You'll play an important role in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that help customers succeed while strengthening relationships and advancing commercialization opportunities.

 

 

• Provide technical expertise and application support through customer meetings, presentations, virtual consultations, technical reports, and troubleshooting activities
• Collaborate with commercial teams, customers, scientists, operations, quality, regulatory, and external partners to develop application solutions that support customer success and business growth
• Support trade shows, technical seminars, customer visits, training programs, product demonstrations, and other business development initiatives to promote GPC ingredients and capabilities
• Develop and optimize formulations utilizing GPC ingredients to address customer needs, support innovation initiatives, and drive commercialization opportunities
• Assess, refine, and provide recommendations on new product concepts and prototypes as part of an iterative product development and commercialization process
• Design, conduct, and analyze laboratory experiments to evaluate ingredient functionality and performance in food, nutraceutical, and personal care applications
• Independently design testing protocols, experimental methodologies, and validation procedures aligned with project objectives, industry standards, and scientific best practices
• Evaluate finished product performance and characterize ingredient attributes using analytical techniques, laboratory instrumentation, and sensory assessment methodologies
• Generate technical literature, application guides, product documentation, customer-facing materials, summaries, and reports that translate scientific findings into actionable insights
• Effectively manage multiple projects and priorities while ensuring timely completion of assignments and deliverables
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, experimental data, and project documentation while adhering to safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Perform other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor or Master of Science degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or other science-based curriculum is required
• 3-5 years of relevant industry experience is required
  • Relevant internships or co-op assignments may apply to experience
• Experience supporting customers, providing technical consultation, or partnering with commercial teams in a customer-facing environment strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of food chemistry, organic chemistry, ingredient functionality, and formulation science
• Extensive laboratory experience, including operation of laboratory equipment, analytical techniques, data collection, and safe laboratory practices
• Strong customer-facing communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical information to diverse audiences
• Ability to collaborate effectively with customers, commercial teams, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver application solutions and support business objectives
• Demonstrated understanding of ingredient performance within food, nutraceutical, or personal care formulations
• Experience developing formulations, testing protocols, and technical documentation preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience utilizing ERP systems, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and other scientific software tools
• Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and drive projects to completion

WORK ENVIRONMENT & TRAVEL

• Combination of laboratory, office, and customer-facing work environments, supporting both technical development and commercial initiatives
• Approximately 60–80% of work time is spent performing laboratory and application development activities, with the remaining time dedicated to customer engagement, technical presentations, project collaboration, business development support, and related activities
• Frequent exposure to laboratory equipment, ingredients, chemicals, moving mechanical parts, fumes, and airborne particles while following established safety procedures
• Travel up to 40% may be required to support customer visits, technical service activities, product demonstrations, trade shows, industry conferences, training programs, supplier meetings, and other business development initiatives