Junior Research Associate - Consumer And Sensory Sciences

ITC Limited; Devanagondi; On-site; INR 500,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

ITC Limited in India is seeking a JRA to plan, coordinate and execute product claims substantiation across Personal Care brands. The role involves coordinating studies with labs, analyzing data and contributing to novel product claims and consumer demonstrations.

The incumbent will work with microbiology and biotechnology methods, handle consumer/clinical research inputs, and ensure robust documentation while aligning with defined timelines.

Qualifications

• 1-5 years’ experience in Microbiology, Cell culture, Cell Biology, Personal Care product testing in FMCG or allied Industries.
• Biotechnology disciplines/skills like Human/Animal Cell culture techniques would be a plus.
• Knowledge/experience in Personal Care and Home Care product evaluations.
• Basic appreciation of Statistics.
• MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint for data analysis and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Assist in product evaluations and claim substantiation through wet lab and dry lab research within defined timelines.
• Engage with formulation teams and Brand teams to plan testing approaches and communicate results on schedule.
• Engage with Consumers to draw insights on product performance and acceptance.
• Ensure documentation thoroughness of all the assigned projects.
• Work independently and in teams to enable timely decisions on assigned projects.
• Operate and maintain advanced instruments used for in vivo and in vitro product evaluations.

Skills

Microbiology

Cell culture

Bioassays

Cell biology

Statistics

Laboratory instrumentation

Education

M.Sc. Microbiology

M.Sc. Microbiology + Biotechnology

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Responsibilities

The JRA would be responsible for planning, coordinating and executing product claims substantiation activities through methods and techniques in Microbiology, Biotechnology and Consumer research across different categories and brands within Personal Care R&D, basis defined timelines.

About Us

The JRA would be responsible for planning, coordinating and executing product claims substantiation activities through methods and techniques in Microbiology, Biotechnology and Consumer research across different categories and brands within Personal Care R&D, basis defined timelines.

The JRA would be required to network and coordinate studies with various external labs/CROs and analyse data received and draw conclusions for claims suitability. He/She is required to align and establish processes, methods and bioassays for Microbiology / Biotechnology, Product evaluations through Consumer / Clinical research and participate in the creation of novel and differentiated product claims and consumer demonstrations.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist in product evaluations and claim substantiation through methods in wet lab research [Microbiology/ Cell-Culture/ Bioassays etc], Dry lab research, Consumer / Clinical research etc. in defined timelines.
• Actively engage with Stakeholders [formulation teams, Brand teams] to understand the requirement and suggest appropriate testing approaches, timely execution of the evaluations and communication of result as per the set schedules
• Actively engage with Consumers to draw insights on product performance and acceptance, Consumer behavior and preferences.
• Ensure documentation thoroughness of all the assigned projects.
• Work independently and in teams (within team and with cross-functional teams) to enable timely decisions on assigned projects.
• Operate and maintain advanced Instruments (instruments used for in vivo and in vitro product evaluations)
• Participate in ideation and troubleshooting activities within the group.
• Learn and develop existing processes in lab and documentation etc.
• Learn and develop new methods, new capabilities for continuous skill enhancement.

Qualifications : M.Sc. Microbiology / M.Sc. Microbiology + Biotechnology

Biotechnology disciplines/skills like Human/Animal Cell culture techniques would be a plus.

Knowledge/experience in Personal Care and Home Care product evaluations (Consumers’ skin/hair etc., Surfaces, lab-methods), Basic appreciation of Statistics.

Work Experience

1-5 years’ experience in Microbiology, Cell culture, Cell Biology, Personal Care product testing in FMCG or allied Industries

Experience in Personal Care and Home Care product evaluations (Consumers’ skin/hair etc., Surfaces, lab-methods), Basic appreciation of Statistics.

Skills

• Microbiology laboratory testing skills e.g. aseptic and sterile techniques, optical microscopy, bacterial staining, culturing, isolation, enumeration and identification, use of biological safety cabinets, media and buffer preparation, diagnostic biochemical tests for microbes, antimicrobial bioassays etc.).
• Self-Initiator, Strong, Clear and Open Communication Skills, Sound Analytical Mindset, Inclination to learn and operate advanced instruments and research methodology employed in product efficacy assessments. Networking skills to coordinate studies with various external labs / CROs and analyse data received and draw conclusions for product claims suitability.
• Biotechnology skills like Human/Animal Cell culture, cryo-preservation, MTT Assay, cell lysate preparation, RNA/DNA extraction, cDNA and qPCR etc.
• Instrument and Lab maintenance with experience on audits in core domain and ISO 14001, 17025 etc.
• Networking abilities, ability to connect with people and openly communicate
• Language Proficiency: Kannada, Tamil/ Telugu, Hindi

Knowledge

• MS Excel, MS Word, MS-Powerpoint, Basic Statistics tools.
• Fair understanding on Personal Care and Home Care products and Market
• An above average understanding of Skin and Hair Biology and basic methods in evaluating product efficacies in Personal Care and Home Care domain.