What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Scientist position at Nulixir Inc.?
Who is Nulixir?
Nulixir, a nano-biotechnology start-up, is a VC-backed business-to-business (B2B) company that develops, manufactures, and licenses intellectual property (IP) for smart nanocarriers, called nanovesicles, which optimize the performance of functional ingredients in food & beverage products. Nulixir, as the Function HouseTM, is revolutionizing the functional ingredient space by introducing a realm of functionality and shaping the future of intelligent food. This patented technology (70 patents) has applications across multiple verticals in food and beverage (e.g., nootropics, energy stimulants, vitamins, probiotics, protein, etc.).
Founded in 2019, the company brought together a team of CPG leaders, cancer researchers, US attorneys, and nutritionists to overcome long-standing challenges in the Food and Beverage Industry. The firm’s founder has extensive experience in the development of nanocarriers for cancer therapeutics.
In the past-year, Nulixir sales have grown ~8x with strong interest from small, mid-size and many large CPG companies to partner with Nulixir and incorporate the technology in their products. Nulixir boasts an impressive board of senior executives from companies like Pepsi, Danone, McKinsey & Company, Paine Schwartz Partners, etc. The company currently has 30 employees with a stellar executive team who come from food B2B companies such as ADM, Givaudan, Kerry, and ex-MBB consultants.
Position Overview :
This individual will play a key role in leading research and development initiatives to develop new food grade encapsulation technologies, applying Nulixir’s proprietary technology to enhance the performance of food, beverage, and dietary supplements.
This role is critical to the success of Nulixir and is an exceptional opportunity to play a pivotal role in leading cutting-edge research initiatives, driving innovation, and contributing to the development of pioneering nanotechnologies in food and beverage applications.
Position Location :
This position will be based at our HQ facilities located in the Austin, TX Metropolitan Area.
In this critically important role, you will be responsible for :
This position is responsible for spearheading innovation of research projects from inception to completion to meet the needs of Nulixir’s customers, including project planning, experimental design, execution, and analysis. Successful execution requires strong technical expertise and high productivity to generate actionable insights and drive critical decision-making. Furthermore, this role is expected to provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior scientists, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
Effective cross-functional teamwork is pivotal for this role, collaborating across departments including clinical research, manufacturing, and customer-facing team members. Additionally, staying current with the latest advancements, trends, and technologies in colloid science is imperative. This role will advise senior management and integrate new knowledge into research activities, ultimately contributing to intellectual property generation through patents, publications, and presentations.
Relevant Job Experiences, Skills, and Key requirements for this role :
- Advanced degree in the following fields : Nanotechnology, Materials Science, and / or Chemical Engineering
- 10 years of industry experience in colloid science and wet chemistry
- At least 2000 citations
- Proven track record of success leading research projects, with demonstrated expertise in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and relevant statistical and computational tools
- Strong technical skills with a passion for pushing the boundaries of problem solving and creativity to drive innovative solutions
- Application expertise of liposomes, double emulsions, lipophilic particle formation, and core-shell particle formation in food-grade encapsulation
- Product development experience in flavor and / or food ingredient industries, including commercialization of products in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment
- Proficient leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to guide junior scientists, collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, and communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively
- Excellent project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and allocate resources effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Strong publication and presentation record indicative of a candidate’s research in relevant areas by peers
We Offer :
Nulixirians’ Culture :
We recruit, promote, and reward based off of our five core values :
