Bioprocessing Pilot Plant Junior Specialist or Specialist – Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL), Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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WE TRANSFORM LIVES. Everything we do is designed to improve the quality of life of the people in the state of Illinois, across the nation, and around the world. We discover, develop, translate, and disseminate knowledge to address societal concerns and train the next generation of experts and leaders in a way that empowers them to expand the boundaries of science to higher levels of understanding and influence.
Be a part of our story. The Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) is leading the way in food and bioprocessing research, teaching, and scale-up activities. Our facilities include over 50,000 sq. ft. of recently constructed and modernized pilot plant, laboratory, and collaborative space filled with over $15M in pilot-scale processing equipment. Our clients range from start-up businesses to Fortune 500 companies in addition to our work supporting major federal research grants, traditional classes, and continuing education opportunities for industry.
We are continually adding new capabilities to our program and are excited to build upon our excellent staff through a strategic hire with the following responsibilities.
The Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory currently has one open pilot plant position at either the Junior Specialist or Specialist classification. Candidate experience and qualifications will determine appropriate classification at time of job offer to the selected candidate.
Junior Specialist level duties:
- Organize and perform the day-to-day research, operations, and safety oversight of the IBRL pilot plant and laboratory. Prepare for research trials by students, faculty, and outside researchers.
- Serve within a team of research specialists with overall responsibility for operating and maintaining all food and bioprocessing research equipment in facility. Ensure equipment is available and ready for use.
- Provide expertise to faculty, students, and outside users performing research to ensure safe and successful use of facility equipment, including coordinating with outside contractors as necessary.
- Assist with certain business functions including but not limited to: consumable supplies ordering, shipping, inventory tracking, and property accounting.
- Implement technical training in the areas of equipment operation, safety, and research methodology/data analysis as it pertains to IBRL pilot plant scale-up and testing.
- Assist with research equipment and light facility repairs in the IBRL pilot plant and laboratory. Make recommendations for facility and equipment repairs, improvements, and upgrades.
- Maintain IBRL pilot plant to GMP standards. Assist in creation of and enforce written operating and safety procedures for IBRL. Participate in any inspections or audits as required.
- Coordinate with other IBRL technical specialists on activities in the facility. Maintain general knowledge of procedures and equipment to serve as backup to other members on team.
- Pursue ongoing professional development. Stay abreast of developing processing technologies, industry product trends, and safety programs.
- Represent IBRL at conferences, meetings, and other related activities as requested.
- Serve as backup 24/7 emergency contact for Public Safety and Facilities & Services.
- Other duties as assigned
Specialist level duties:
- Supervise and perform the day-to-day research, operations, and safety oversight of the IBRL pilot plant and laboratory. Schedule and prepare for research trials by students, faculty, and outside researchers.
- Serve within a team of research specialists and direct reports with overall responsibility for operating and maintaining all food and bioprocessing research equipment in facility. Ensure equipment is available and ready for use.
- Provide expertise to faculty, students, and outside users performing research to ensure safe and successful use of facility equipment, including coordinating with outside contractors as necessary.
- Perform certain business functions including but not limited to: managing allocated budgets/resources and projecting future needs, consumable supplies ordering, and inventory tracking and property accounting.
- Develop and implement technical training in the areas of equipment operation, safety, and research methodology/data analysis as it pertains to IBRL-PPP scale-up and testing.
- Oversee research equipment and light facility repairs in the IBRL pilot plant and laboratory.
- Make recommendations for facility and equipment repairs, improvements, and upgrades.
- Maintain IBRL-PPP to GMP standards. Oversee creation of and enforce written operating and safety procedures for IBRL. Participate in any inspections or audits as required.
- Coordinate with other IBRL technical specialists on activities in the facility. Maintain general knowledge of procedures and equipment to serve as backup to other members on team.
- Pursue ongoing professional development. Stay abreast of developing processing technologies, industry product trends, and safety programs.
- Represent IBRL at conferences, meetings, and other related activities as requested.
- erve as backup 24/7 emergency contact for Public Safety and Facilities & Services.
- Other duties as assigned.
Salary range for position: Commensurate with education and/or experience
Position Requirements and Qualifications
Education:
Required for Junior Specialist: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Technical Systems Management, Food Science, or closely related field
Preferred for Junior Specialist: Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Technical Systems Management,Food Science, or closely related field
Required for Specialist: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Technical Systems Management, Food Science, or closely related field
Preferred for Specialist: Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Technical Systems Management, Food Science, or closely related field
Experience:
Required for Junior Specialist:
1+ years of work experience operating food, bioprocessing, or related equipment
Experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing processing equipment
Knowledge of/experience with research principles, research methodology, and analyzing/interpreting research data
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Preferred for Junior Specialist:
2+ years of experience working in a food or bioprocessing pilot-scale or production facility
1+ years of experience operating industrial fermentation or extrusion equipment
Experience in supervising and training others in an educational environment
Required for Specialist:
3+ years of work experience operating food, bioprocessing, or related equipment
3+ years of experience supervising and training others in an educational or production environment
Experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing processing equipment
Knowledge of/experience with research principles, research methodology, and analyzing/interpreting research data
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Preferred for Specialist:
5+ years of experience working in a food or bioprocessing pilot-scale or production facility
2+ years of experience operating industrial fermentation or extrusion equipment
Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities:
Preferred for Specialist: Knowledge and understanding of common food, chemical, and bioenergy industry processing techniques, GMPs, plant safety, and pilot scale processing equipment
Environmental Demands:
Ability to lift 50lbs
Ability to work in hot, cold, or wet environments or with equipment that is heated
Ability to stand, climb, or interact with equipment at various heights
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, AND DEPARTMENT:
The successful candidate will join an energetic and growing team in the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL), a new facility on the University of Illinois campus designed to scale bioprocessing technologies and help bridge the gap between academic research and industrial commercialization. This program and pilot plant facilities are uniquely designed to work closely with industry and faculty on research and scale-up activities above the typical benchtop work done on campus. Our current team has a variety of backgrounds including academia, federal research labs, and private industry with a wide range of expertise in pilot and production scale processing, business operations, and safety.
We are currently adding extrusion and additional industrial fermentation equipment to our long list of capabilities. There is growing interest in plant-based proteins and these capabilities are critical to this market. Our newly installed $3.5M pilot-scale twin-screw extrusion system was installed with assistance from our industrial partners. This line will be capable of producing snacks, cereals, and meat analogue products. We also have expanded our industrial fermentation capabilities to include a new 500L and 1500L fermenter complete with downstream separation operations. We are excited to be grow our capabilities in these areas through a strategic hire.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus has a student enrollment of over 40,000, and nearly 2,000 faculty members. The Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering is the department home of the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, but it also works very closely with the Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition. We collaborate closely with Departments in the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, College of Engineering, and College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Our associated programs are widely recognized for their commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate programs, teaching, research, outreach, and international programs.
Urbana-Champaign is located approximately 120 miles South of Chicago in a vibrant and diverse community of 110,000 and is easy driving distance from St. Louis and Indianapolis. Our community offers the residential advantages of a medium-sized university, excellent cultural opportunities, and a high quality of life.
APPOINTMENT DETAILS: This is a 100% full time, benefits eligible academic professional position. The proposed starting date is as soon as possible after the closing date. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
APPLICATION PROCESS: To apply, create your candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three references by June 26, 2022. Full consideration will be given to complete applications received by the closing date. For further information regarding application procedures, contact Samantha Hurt at sjhurt@illinois.edu or 217-300-8457.
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