- Location
- Clyde Ingram Hall - Poultry Science, United States of America
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- IT
- Education
- PhD
- Closing date
- Today
- Source
- Workday
Description
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Job Posting Title:
Research and Grants Development Specialist
Position Type:
Professional / Unclassified
Department:
LSUAG PL3 - SNFS - Food Incubator (Amogh Ambardekar (00330165))
Work Location:
Clyde Ingram Hall - Poultry Science
Pay Grade:
Other Academic
Job Description:
Position Description: The Research and Grants Development Specialist supports the Director of the Food Innovation Institute (FOODii) by identifying and pursuing external funding and by providing technical subject matter expertise on emerging food processing and ingredient technologies. This position owns the grant lifecycle from opportunity identification through proposal drafting and submission, spanning workforce development, applied research, equipment and infrastructure, and private foundation funding categories. The position also provides technical and research support to FOODii tenants, including sensory analysis experimental design and report writing, and contributes technical expertise to FOODii research initiatives and to the evaluation of new equipment, ingredients, and processing technologies brought into the institute. Approximately 60 percent of this position's time is allocated to research support and technical subject matter expertise, and approximately 40 percent to grant and funding development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Research Support and Technical Subject Matter Expertise (70%)
- Serve as technical lead on research initiatives assigned by the Director, coordinating experimental design and execution with pilot plant staff and external collaborators.
- Provide technical and research support to FOODii tenants, including experimental design consultation and troubleshooting support for their product development work.
- Design sensory analysis experiments and prepare sensory evaluation reports for FOODii research initiatives and tenant projects.
- Develop and maintain working knowledge of emerging food processing and ingredient technologies relevant to FOODii's pipeline, such as extrusion processing and precision fermentation.
- Evaluate new equipment, ingredients, and processing methods, and provide technical recommendations to the Director.
Grant and Funding Development (30%)
- Identify and pursue funding opportunities aligned with FOODii's strategic initiatives, spanning workforce development, applied research, equipment and infrastructure, and private foundation funding categories.
- Draft grant proposals in coordination with the Director, including project narratives, budgets, budget justifications, biosketches, facilities and resources statements, and letters of support.
- Author white papers and other funding-adjacent materials that support FOODii's positioning with prospective funders.
- Organize or support webinars and outreach activities connected to funding opportunities and FOODii's grant initiatives.
- Maintain a rolling pipeline of prospective funding opportunities and report status to the Director on a monthly basis.
- Coordinate with the LSU AgCenter Office of Sponsored Programs and with co-investigators across departments and partner institutions on multi-party proposals.
- Maintain a library of reusable proposal content, including institutional descriptions, facilities statements, and standard biosketches, to reduce proposal turnaround time.
- Support post-award progress reporting and compliance documentation in coordination with the Office of Sponsored Programs.
Qualification Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master's in Food Science, Food Engineering, Sensory Science, or a closely related discipline, with a minimum of three years of applied research experience.
- Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to translate scientific work into proposal narratives for non-specialist reviewers.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines and work independently with growing autonomy over time.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Exposure to grant proposal development through graduate research or prior employment, such as contributing to sections of a funded proposal; independent lead-authorship is preferred but not required at hire.
- Prior experience as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, or primary drafter on a funded federal or foundation grant.
- Technical background in alternative proteins, precision fermentation, or food processing technology.
- Experience with sponsored programs processes at a land-grant university or comparable research institution.
- PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, Sensory Science, or a closely related discipline
LSU and the AgCenter are dedicated to fostering an environment where our employees feel appreciated for their skills and individual qualifications. If a candidate does not meet the minimum qualifications listed but has other qualifications or substantial experience related to the key responsibilities, we encourage them to apply (per La. RS 42:36).
Date Available: Upon completion of the selection process.
Application Deadline: October 16, 2026 or until a suitable candidate is identified.
Application Procedure: Qualified candidates must apply online using the https://lsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/LSU (or through Workday for internal applicants) by attaching file(s) containing a curriculum vita, a letter of application, official university transcripts, and two letters of reference. Questions about the online application system should be directed to the HRM Office at 225/578-0324 or [email protected]. (Paper, faxed, or emailed application materials will not be accepted.) In lieu of attaching the letters of reference, they may be sent directly to:
Amogh Ambardekar, Ph.D.
Director of Food Innovation Institute (FOODii)
School of Nutrition & Food Sciences
297D Knapp Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: 225-578-4448
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lsuagcenter.com
The LSU Agricultural Center is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
Additional Job Description:
Competencies:
NoneSpecial Instructions:
Research and Grants Development Specialist
Skills Needed:
Preferred Skills:
Posting Date:
October 2, 2026
Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
January 30, 2027
Additional Position Information:
Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Benefits - The LSU AgCenter has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some childcare and medical expenses), university holidays (14 per year), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.
Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.
Essential Position (Y/N):
About the LSU Agricultural Center:
The LSU AgCenter, is one of eight campuses within the broader LSU enterprise (LSU System). The LSU AgCenter includes the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, which conducts agricultural-based research, and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, which extends the knowledge derived from research to the people of the state. The AgCenter is headquartered in Baton Rouge and has 12 “on campus” academic departments and five regions which are made up of 15 branch research stations and an extension office in each parish. For more information, visit the AgCenter’s website at www.lsuagcenter.com.
The LSU Agricultural Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
HCM Contact Information:
Questions or concerns can be directed to the LSU AgCenter Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-2258 or emailed [email protected].