Senior Research Scientist - Soil Science

At Loam, we have the earth in our hands. Our team of scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs is united in a mission to improve the world’s farmland and address climate change.

We are developing soil carbon sequestration technology that uses microbes' power to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and build soil carbon in agricultural soils. We are dedicated to developing nature-based solutions that boost farm productivity and benefit the environment. Our approach helps farming businesses prosper by boosting yield and soil health and assisting growers to unlock access to carbon markets.

We are a rapidly-growing team of more than 30 researchers and practitioners, with headquarters in Orange, NSW Australia, and St Paul, Minnesota, US. As a start-up with ambitious founders and investors, our work is fast-paced and multi-dimensional. We foster a supportive and diverse workplace where every team member is encouraged to learn and grow beyond their area of expertise.

This is more than just a job — this is our life’s work.

About The Role

The Senior Soil Scientist will be working to deliver projects from the laboratory to the field focusing on understanding and enhancing soil carbon sequestration in various agricultural settings. Reporting to Loam’s Global Product Sciences Leader, this role also involves developing and directing research projects that advance the understanding of microbial-mediated carbon sequestration. The role will require travel as project needs arise, and is based in Orange, NSW Australia.

• Deliver key soil science projects
• Apply and integrate state-of-the-art knowledge of soil science fundamentals, such as the chemical, biological and physical properties of soils, for the company's research and development program
• Further, develop the organisation’s foundational knowledge of soil carbon dynamics
• Support product development for soil carbon sequestration optimization
• Contribute to the development and implementation of grant proposals and demonstration projects.
• Track progress and alignment of cross-organizational collaboration project teams
• Collaborate with the Loam R&D team on the development of novel products
• Provide input to strategic R&D plans and direction
• Develop research reports and make presentations on findings, including non-scientific reports and scientific research papers

Requirements

To be successful in this role, you will have

• Strong leadership skills with a passion for soil carbon sequestration
• Five plus years of post-PhD experience in industry or research organisations
• Knowledge of the influence of agricultural land management practices on soil organic carbon dynamics
• Chemical analysis experience to determine the effect of soil treatments and mineralogical relationship to soil carbon and the treatment
• Well-targeted research projects skills to appropriately budget, resource and report against key milestones
• Experience in product development and operation of research projects
• Be across the latest technology and developments in soil science
• The confidence and ability to run and analyze data from advanced analytical equipment
• A flexible approach to work - you will be required to carry out collaborative research
• Confidence in working with large datasets, monitoring, verification and reporting
• Willingness to travel, nationally and internationally, as required
• Experience working in agricultural or environmental settings, academic settings, and managing teams

Benefits

• Competitive remuneration
• A custom professional development package, including formal and informal training
• Regular one-on-one meetings with your manager and opportunities to progress your career
• Engagement in cross-functional, cross-geographical product teams as you work alongside leading scientists and innovators in an international organisation
• Sports facilities and gym on-site
• Meaningful work and a ripper team to boot!