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Danone's Research & Innovation (R&I) center, located in Gif-sur-Yvette on the Saclay plateau, is a global center of excellence dedicated to food innovation. This state-of-the-art center is at the heart of one of the largest international scientific clusters. It houses more than 500 experts from 40 nationalities passionate about life sciences, nutrition, consumer experience, pilots, and product design. Danone's R&I center is designed to foster collaboration with food tech startups and accelerate innovation in partnership with consumers and partners around food and health

The Medical & Nutritional Science (M&NS) department is hiring a Health & Nutrition Lead (L7) on a permanent contract in the Nutrtion & Scientific Affairs team, reporting to the Nutrition Director. The position is based in Gif-sur-Yvette on the Saclay plateau at the Danone Global Research & Innovation Center Daniel Carasso, which is at the heart of Danone's Research & Innovation. The center comprises state-of-the-art laboratories and pilot workshops, with employees working collectively to innovate on dairy and plant products, waters, and specialized nutrition for the future.

The M&NS department aims to create value and growth opportunities for Danone around Nutrition and/or Health. The department includes teams based in the Netherlands (Utrecht), France (Gif-sur-Yvette), and Singapore.

This position of Gut function Scientist, within the Innovation, Science & Nutrition department, aims to positively impact the diet & health of people by bringing adapted solutions in the countries where we operate.  

Your Mission:   

Contribute to scientific projects through state-of-the-art laboratory execution using in vitro digestion models. Design and perform experiments, generate robust scientific evidence, analyze and visualize data, and translate scientific findings into clear insights and recommendations for project teams and stakeholders. Collaborate efficiently with internal teams and existing scientific networks to strengthen Danone's scientific expertise and support business opportunities. Overall contribute to generate the scientific rational supporting Danone business in line with our “Health Through Gut” strategy. 

Your accountabilities:   

• Bring scientific and technical expertise to the team through hands-on execution of laboratory studies in gut physiology and in-vitro models simulating the human gut- ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, traceability and compliance with laboratory and safety procedures- and through monitoring the scientific literature to strengthen methodologies and identify scientific opportunities relevant for innovation and business.
  • Communicate scientific results and recommendations to scientists and non-expert stakeholders through clear presentations, data visualization, study reports and project discussions, supporting informed decision-making.
• Contribute efficiently to transversal scientific projects by working with formulation, microbiology, nutrition, analytical and other R&I teams and by delivering agreed project activities within scope, timelines and available resources and working efficiently with existing internal and external networks and contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.

• Your Master’s degree or PhD in digestive physiology, gut physiology, gastrointestinal biology, nutritional science or a closely related discipline.
  • Your strong knowledge of Gut & digestive physiology and hands-on experience with in-vitro models simulating the human gut and basic knowledge of interactions between food matrices, ingredients, microorganisms and the gastrointestinal environment. An experience with fermented products and/or knowledge of fermentation would be a plus.
  • Your experience in experimental design, laboratory execution, data interpretation and scientific problem solving. Including knowledge of statistical programming in R and/or Python for data analysis and visualization would be desired. 
  • Your excellent organizational & communication skills in written and spoken English to communicate scientific results to experts, non-experts as well as business stakeholders.. 
  • Your experience in scientific project management including transversal work and management of resources, would be a plus. 
  • You are a team player, with a demonstrated ability to contribute autonomously and efficiently in a result-oriented manner within an agreed framework. 

Danone is proud to promote inclusion and equal opportunities. We truly believe that our diversity will make the difference and that an inclusive environment will make us grow as a company, as a team, and as people. We therefore consider all applications* to ensure an inclusive corporate culture where everyone can feel like they belong.

*All applications will be considered irrespective of origins and ethnicity, personal background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability.

At Danone, we guarantee that you can simply be yourself. We believe that it's up to you to define the way you work, to develop yourself, to progress. With us, you'll work in an exciting, complex, and challenging environment. This is how you will create new opportunities! You will work with world-renowned brands such as Blédina, Evian, or Actimel. Be innovative, enterprising, and the impact you will have will impress you. Join our movement for a more sustainable world. One Planet One Health BY YOU.

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