Research Fellow, Fermenation

Help shape the future of food by mapping the LCA landscape of fermentation-derived ingredients

The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a nonprofit think tank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals. Alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI’s teams focus on making plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated meat delicious, affordable, and accessible. Powered by philanthropy, GFI is an international network of organizations advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals.

How You Will Make a Difference

In this role, you will have the opportunity to apply your sustainability and scientific background to conduct a systematic landscape and gap assessment of fermentation-derived ingredient life cycle assessments (LCAs). Your research will be crucial in informing the alternative protein ecosystem on fundamental knowledge in the space as well as identifying further opportunities for growth and innovation. The Research Fellow, Fermentation LCA will be responsible for and work closely with the team on:

• Conducting a systematic review of microbially-based food ingredient life cycle assessments.
• Analyzing and summarizing the environmental impact and underlying impact drivers of fermentation alternative protein and fat products including biomass fermentation (single-cell protein), microbial fats/oils, and precision fermentation proteins.
• Summarizing the functional units, inputs, processes (e.g. strain, bioprocess type), LCA methods (e.g. allocation), and comparator products.
• Identifying the primary impact drivers in fermentation processes and product categories.
• Identifying research gaps, methodological alignment, and needs in the sector.
• Preparing draft open-access resource(s) that summarizes the state of knowledge of the environmental impacts of fermentation-derived proteins as well as the highest priority gaps and needs for improvements based on data availability. These may include a fact sheet, action whitepaper(s), and/or a technical publication.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a passionate and detail-oriented researcher with a strong background in life cycle assessment and an interest in advancing sustainability in alternative proteins. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in analyzing complex environmental impacts, especially within bioprocesses like fermentation. They will also be comfortable navigating scientific literature, performing data-driven analyses, and contributing to the development of open-access resources that can guide the future of sustainable food systems. The Research Fellow, Fermentation LCA will be a key player in identifying opportunities for growth and innovation in the fermentation-derived ingredients sector, and an ideal candidate for the role will have experience that reflects the following:

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in environmental science, chemical engineering, sustainability, public health, or a related field with a focus on or experience in life cycle assessment (LCA).
  • Candidates currently pursuing an advanced degree or with at least 2 years of extensive relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience in conducting or interpreting LCAs, with an emphasis on food systems or bioprocessing.
• Familiarity with and strong understanding of LCA software and/or LCA methodologies (e.g., allocation, functional units, impact categories).
• Experience conducting systematic reviews, including landscape and gap assessments, with a focus on data extraction, data analysis, synthesis, and identifying research trends and knowledge gaps.
• Familiarity with fermentation technologies and alternative protein products (e.g., biomass, microbial fats/oils, precision fermentation).
• Strong communication skills with experience in preparing scientific reports, whitepapers, or technical publications.
• Experience in preparing open-access resources or contributing to industry reports is a plus.
• Ability to work independently in a remote setting while collaborating effectively remotely.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong support for GFI’s philosophy and mission; demonstrated interest in plant-based & other alt proteins, public health, environmentalism, climate change, animal protection, or hunger relief.
• A commitment to GFI’s values: believe change is possible, do the most good we can, share knowledge freely, act on evidence, and invite everyone to the table.

We want the best people and we don’t want biases holding us back. We use a third-party anonymizing tool to redact personal information from submitted applications — including name, location, contact details, and several other factors — to reduce bias and increase fairness in our process. We strongly encourage people of every race, color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. Since we value a diverse workplace, we prioritize an inclusive climate absent of discrimination and harassment during the application process and after you join the team.

Research indicates that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the criteria, while women and people from other marginalized groups only apply if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about GFI’s mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The Fine Print

• Position Type: Independent Contractor
• Position Term: 20 hours of work a week for 20 weeks
• Reports to: Lucas Eastham, Lead Scientist (Fermentation)
• Location: Remote, United States
• Stipend: $12,000 and will be paid pro-rata biweekly over the length of the assignment ($30/hour for 20 hours of work per week for 20 weeks)

Important Dates

Application Deadline: May 15, 2025

Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2025