Overview

Are you looking to make a difference in the world while producing a new product? Tender is revolutionizing the food industry by solving a major global challenge: how to make meat production ethical and sustainable. Going beyond the existing plant-based burgers, we are developing alternative meat whole-cuts – think steaks and chicken breasts – using innovative technologies.

Since our spin out of Harvard University and the Wyss Institute in 2020, Tender Food has been developing alternative shredded and whole-cut meats using innovations in materials science, manufacturing, and tissue engineering to transform how the world consumes meat and protein. We are actively recruiting for our core technical team.

We are seeking a Biomaterials Research Associate I to join our Materials Innovation team and support the development of our alternative meat technologies. Reporting to a Senior Biomaterials Research Scientist, you will work with our Materials Innovation, Food Science, and Engineering Innovation teams to advance our next generation of plant-based whole-cut meats. Tender Food is looking for an individual who has a passion to change the world for the better – what you do for work matters.

About You

• You have a bachelor's degree in Food Science, Materials Science, Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• You have 1+ years of experience working in research settings and are comfortable executing experiments independently.
• You are excited about working in a research kitchen and lab developing new food technologies.
• You are detail oriented and can spot what others have missed.
• You have strong organizational skills and demonstrated experience prioritizing multiple deliverables.
• You are a self-starter, have an excellent work ethic, and can adapt to new challenges.
• You are a good communicator and thrive in collaborative environments.
• You have a passion to change the world for the better and what you do for work matters to you.
• Bonus: You have experience working in a BSL 1 or 2 laboratory.
  
  

Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of a Senior Biomaterials Research Scientist, you will assist in the development, testing, and optimization of plant-based whole-cut meat products.
• You will collaborate with the Materials Innovation team to evaluate methods of adding animal cells to plant-based whole-cut meat products.
• You will implement quality control (QC) protocols to define key attributes and processing parameters for Tender's plant-based meat products.
• You will collaborate with members of the Materials Innovation team to support evaluations with external partners.
• You will assist in the development of new analytical methods for characterizing Tender's technologies, processes, and products.
• You will conduct experiments and tests following relevant food safety guidelines.