Freelance R&D Food Lab Researcher Services - Meat Alternatives Applications

Call for Proposals: 

Freelance R&D Food Lab Researcher Services - Meat Alternatives Applications

The Good Food Institute Israel (GFI Israel) has recently launched its new hands-on research initiative “Labs” - advancing applicable, industry-facing R&D addressing the major sensory and price gaps in alternative meat products. 

We are seeking a freelance, part-time researcher to support Labs by GFI IL in delivering projects across our R&D pipeline, based on close familiarity with food industry standards, in a timely manner and to a high scientific standard.

Scope of Work

The selected specialist will design, execute, and analyze experiments in a food applications / wet-lab environment with initial emphasis on alt-meat off-note mitigation. Work spans ingredient screening, formulation, functional testing, sensory testing support data analysis, and clear reporting for internal decision-making. 

On-site work at Yakum with occasional meetings in Tel Aviv.

Key responsibilities include:

• Participate in research planning with Labs project managers.
• End-to-end responsibility on executing, and analyzing bench-scale experiments
• Translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations for industrial applications.
• Conducting ingredient and process screening & refinement; building tidy datasets, documenting meticulously in digital notebooks; preparing concise reports, tables, and figures for internal stakeholders.
• Collaborating with external labs/suppliers; supporting pilot-level trials where needed.

Required Qualifications:

• BSc or MSc in Food Science (or closely related field, e.g., food engineering, biology, chemistry, bioengineering).
• 2-5 years of experience in the food manufacturing industry. Experience in plant-based startup (PB) environments is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of food ingredients, product development, and food-industry processes.
• Knowledge of analytical techniques for molecule identification - off-notes (lab execution or close collaboration with analytical partners).
• Data interpretation and analysis skills; experiment design, execution, and analysis (statistics is a plus).
• Independence and ingenuity during experimentation; strong ownership and time management.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly and visually.
• Self-starter with strong time management skills and the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Alignment with GFI’s mission and enthusiasm for science-driven innovation in the food system.

Additional Skills as an Advantage:

• Practical exposure to sample prep for volatile GC-MS analysis (e.g., SPME, headspace).
• Exposure to extruders (HME/TVP) or close collaboration with extrusion teams, and familiarity with sensory methods (triangle tests, simple QDA) and linking lab data to sensory outcomes are a plus.
• Ability to create tidy spreadsheets and automation of plots in R/Python (nice to have).

Terms of employment: Freelance / Service contract, part-time (2-3 days per week), expected term of 5 months with the possibility of extension

Location: On-site work at Yakum with occasional meetings in Tel Aviv

Start date: Immediate, as soon as possible

How to Apply

To apply, please send the following materials to [email protected] with the subject title: R&D Food Lab Technician - [Your Name / Company Name]:

1. A resume or company profile
2. A brief cover letter (in English) explaining your motivation and suitability for the position
3. Relevant work sample(s) (e.g., prior landscape analyses, research briefs)
4. A short proposal including your availability and hourly or monthly rate

If you are passionate about science-based innovation and want to contribute to building a sustainable food future, we look forward to hearing from you!