Senior Scientist

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The Fuels and Low Carbon Technology (F&LCT) team consists of over 300 technologists, scientists, and engineers who develop pioneering solutions to support BP’s Fuels, Refining, Bioenergy, and Hydrogen businesses. This group also supports the Technology division through innovation management, modeling, digital science, and academic research programs.

The Bioenergy & Hydrogen Technology team (B&HT) brings together scientists and engineers dedicated to delivering low‑carbon energy solutions that align with BP’s strategy, while also supporting the technological needs of our oil and gas projects. The team works across many of BP’s businesses, advancing areas such as novel feed stocks, biofuels and advanced biofuels, and hydrogen.

The Senior Scientist will work with our Synthetic Biology and Process development groups. The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing our fungal platform by contributing to the design and improvement of fungal strains and fermentation bioprocesses. This role is expected to participate actively in ideation and innovation, as well as to perform experimental research and development in support of our bioenergy projects.

The individual will join a group of collaborative scientists and should possess strong communication abilities, outstanding interdisciplinary problem‑solving and critical thinking skills, and a keen interest in scientific discovery. This position requires hands‑on work at the laboratory and experience proven by a track record of scientific publications.

• Lead technical projects to develop microbial strains and fermentation technologies to produce enzyme formulations and molecules of interest.
• Provide expertise in tools and methods to optimize fungal strains and process conditions to achieve desired yields and product quality.
• Design and execute experimental plans, process data, and critically analyze results to drive project goals.
• Mentor junior scientists and research assistants to foster technical excellence and a positive culture.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to troubleshoot issues and ensure alignment with business strategies and customer needs.
• Support development of lab processes to pilot‑scale and production.
• Contribute to intellectual property strategies, communicate experimental outcomes effectively through technical reports and presentations, and interact with stakeholders.
• Exhibit attention to detail and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Operate independently and effectively in a fast‑paced, multitasking environment, with an aptitude for communicating and creating meaningful team interactions.
• Spend approximately 70% of the time working in the laboratory, delivering high‑quality results to support bioscience projects and capability building.
• Promote safety initiatives and champion compliance with BP’s Code of Conduct.

• Fungal expertise:
  Deep, hands‑on experience developing and optimizing fungal and/or filamentous fungal strains and fermentation processes, with a specific focus on Trichoderma reesei.
• Process development:
  Experience working with microbial fermentation process teams to develop and optimize lab and pilot scales.
• Problem‑solving:
  Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a track record of implementing process improvements.
• Leadership:
  Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects and mentor scientific staff.
• Communication:
  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross‑functional teams.
• Organization:
  Ability to prioritize responsibilities, respond flexibly to changing priorities, and work effectively in a multitasking and matrix environment.
• Safety:
  Ensure all laboratory and process development activities comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs), environmental health and safety (EHS) guidelines, and quality standards at bp Biosciences Center.

Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Microbiology, Fermentation Science, or related fields (PhD with 5+ years industrial experience, or Master’s…