This post-doctoral research associate role sits within the Vitrum project at the University of Lincoln, an Innovate UK-funded effort to automate harvesting of on-the-vine tomatoes. The work centres on food safety and hygiene validation of the harvesting system, including microbiological challenge studies and cross-contamination risks in glasshouses. It is highly applied, with trials in both university facilities and commercial production environments alongside Dogtooth Technologies and APS Produce. A PhD in microbiology, food safety or a related discipline is ideally expected, with experience of validation work in food settings.
What the job involves
- Lead research on food safety and quality assurance aspects of robotic harvesting
- Conduct hygiene validation of robotic harvesting equipment and food-contact surfaces
- Design and run microbiological challenge studies and process validation
- Evaluate cleaning and sanitation approaches
- Assess microbiological safety and contamination risks of robotic harvesting
- Investigate cross-contamination risks in commercial glasshouse environments
- Assess the impact of mechanised harvesting on product safety and quality
- Contribute to developing and validating a harvesting system that meets food safety, hygiene and regulatory requirements
- Run trials in university research facilities and commercial production environments
- Work with robotics researchers, academic colleagues and industry partners
- Contribute to high-quality project outputs, publications and future research activity
What’s required
Experience
- Substantial academic research background
- Demonstrated expertise in food safety and hygiene or food process validation
- Hands‑on experience designing and conducting microbiological experiments
- Experience of process validation, challenge studies and/or hygiene validation
Skills & knowledge
- Strong knowledge of food microbiology, food safety, hygiene regulation and validation methodologies
- Designing and managing independent research
- Communicating complex scientific information effectively
- Working collaboratively within multidisciplinary academic and industrial teams
Nice to have
- PhD in Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Science, Biological Sciences or a closely related discipline
- Experience of trials in food production environments
- Experience of fresh produce or horticultural food safety research
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
