Senior Plant Biologist

Overview

Senior Plant Biologist – Full time

Location:

United States of America, California, San Diego

Experience level:
Intermediate

Travel:
Up to 25% travel should be expected with this role

Job category:
Research & Technology

Job code: RQ100375

Join us in creating, growing, and delivering innovation to reimagine energy for people and our planet. The Technology team develops, and scales low carbon technologies needed to meet the world’s energy demand whilst simultaneously decarbonizing bp’s operations and products.

The Fuels and Low Carbon Technology (F&LCT) is a team of over 300 technologists, scientists and engineers who provide pioneering solutions to support bp’s Fuels, Refining, Bioenergy and Hydrogen businesses. We also support the Technology group through Innovation Management, Modelling, Digital Science and our academic research programmes.

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 supporting the technological needs of our oil and gas projects. The team works across bp’s businesses supporting areas such as novel feed stocks, biofuels and advanced biofuels, and hydrogen.

The opportunity is for a Senior Plant Biologist who will act as a technical expert in feed stocks, feedstock decomposition/deconstruction, and will work closely with the B&HT teams and other collaborators across bp businesses on bioenergy projects. The successful candidate will provide technical expertise to support scientific and technology projects to investigate and implement feedstock insights and solutions in the bioenergy space.

The role supports projects involving feedstock conversion to bioenergy products and serves as an interface between bio-feed stocks production opportunities and conversion strategies.

• As the SME for feedstock composition to conversion, apply technical expertise to identify opportunities and guide priority feedstock selection and downstream deconstruction process development.
• Work with enzyme development and bioanalytical teams in experimental design and results interpretation to inform feedstock selection and conversion process development to improve efficiency.
• Evaluate feed stocks potential for upgrading (cost, quantity, quality, agronomic performance, biomass recalcitrance, etc.).
• Support economic and sustainability evaluations for a range of feedstock options in the production of bioenergy.
• Provide technical expertise through: knowledge of plant biology/physiology/structural biology; approaches to assess biomass quality traits and improved conversion efficiency (pre-treatments, enzymatic hydrolysis, pyrolysis, biological decomposition, etc.); environmental conditions, gene x environment interactions, and crop management strategies that affect compositional traits in bioenergy crops; experience in feedstock composition and/or biological mechanisms that regulate plant processes and growth; assist with plant sample sourcing, testing and selection;
  
  understanding climate threats to bio-feed stocks; support technology strategy and roadmap directions to align with bp’s strategy.
• Collaborate with other bp teams including Applied Sciences Technology, Trading & Shipping, Customers & Products, Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Strategy, Sustainability & Ventures, and Production & Operations.

• MA/MS/PhD in Plant Biology, Botany, Plant Genetics, Agronomy, Agriculture or related field with 5+ years of experience (or bachelor’s with relevant experience).
• In-depth knowledge of bio-feed stocks and plant physiology, including experience with conversion technologies or low carbon product innovation. Understanding the interdependence of feedstock production and its utilization.
• Outstanding interdisciplinary problem solving and critical thinking skills, with a passion for scientific innovation and low carbon technology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with technical and non-technical collaborators.
• Experience working in a multi-tasking, fast-paced, matrix…