Senior Plant Biologist
: Job Details :

Entity:

Technology

Job Family Group:

Research & Technology Group

Job Description:

Join us in creating, growing, and delivering innovation to reimagine energy for people and our planet. The Technology team develops, and scales low carbon technologies needed to meet the world's energy demand whilst simultaneously decarbonizing bp's operations and products.

Job Description

The Fuels and Low Carbon Technology (F&LCT) is a team of over 300 technologists, scientists and engineers who provide pioneering solutions to support bp's Fuels, Refining, Bioenergy and Hydrogen businesses. We also support the Technology group through Innovation Management, Modelling, Digital Science and our academic research programmes.

The Bioenergy & Hydrogen Technology team (B&HT) will bring together scientists and engineers dedicated to delivering low carbon energy solutions that align with bp's strategy while also supporting the technological needs of our oil and gas projects. The team works across many bp's businesses supporting areas such as novel feedstocks, biofuels and advanced biofuels, and hydrogen.

The opportunity

The opportunity is for a Senior Plant Biologist which will act as technical expert in feedstocks, feedstock decomposition/deconstruction, and will work closely with the B&HT teams and other collaborators across the bp businesses on bioenergy projects.

The successful candidate will provide technical expertise to support the scientific and technology projects to investigate and implement feedstock insights and solutions in the bioenergy space. The post holder will support projects involving feedstock conversion to bioenergy products. Additionally, they will serve as an interface between bio-feedstocks production opportunities and conversion strategies.

Key accountabilities

• As the SME for feedstock composition to conversion, apply technical expertise and know-how to see opportunities and provides guidance on priority feedstocks selection and downstream deconstruction process development.
• Work closely with enzyme development and bioanalytical teams in experimental design and results interpretation to inform feedstock selection and conversion process development to improve efficiency
• Evaluate feedstocks potential for upgrading (based on the cost, quantity, quality, agronomic performance, biomass recalcitrance, etc.).
• Support economic and sustainability evaluations for a range of feedstock options in the production of bioenergy.
• Provide technical expertise through:
  • Knowledge of plant biology, plant physiology, and/or structural biology
  • Experience in approaches to assess biomass quality traits and improved conversion efficiency, including pre-treatments, enzymatic hydrolysis, pyrolysis, and biological decomposition etc.
  • Knowledge in environmental conditions, genetic x environment interactions, and crop management strategies that can affect compositional traits in bioenergy crops.
  • Experience in feedstock composition and/or biological mechanisms that regulate important plant processes and impact growth and development desired.
  • Assist with plant sample sourcing, testing and selection.
  • Understanding of growing climate threats such as drought events or adverse precipitation patterns, decreases in biodiversity and loss of fertile soils on the future of bio-feedstocks
  • Support technology strategy and roadmap directions to B&HT research and innovation programs on bio-feedstocks to ensure alignment with bp's strategy.
  • Collaborate with other teams in bp including other groups in Applied Sciences Technology, Trading & Shipping, Customers & Products, Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Strategy, Sustainability & Ventures, and Production & Operations.

Essential criteria and qualifications:

• MA/MS/PhD in subject areas such as Plant Biology, Botany, Plant Genetics, Agronomy, Agriculture or related field with 5+ years of experience (or bachelor's with relevant experience).
• In-depth knowledge of bio-feedstocks, and plant physiology, including experience with conversion technologies or low carbon product innovation. Understand the interdependence of feedstock production and its utilization.
• Outstanding inter-disciplinary problem solving and critical thinking skills, with a passion for scientific innovation and low carbon technology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with technical and non-technical collaborators.
• Experience and ability to work efficiently in a multi-tasking, fast pace, and matrix environment, with skills on prioritizing, delivery and being flexible in response to change.
• Effective decision making with the ability to provide expert advice and clear recommendations, and to propose insights and develop solutions to sophisticated problems.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in initiating and/or handling third party relationships, including academic collaborators, to find opportunities and establish strategic or tactical relationships that add new value and can secure competitive advantage for bp.
• Knowledge of plant breeding and other crop development technologies.
• Experienced assessing technology readiness level (TRL) and developing technology strategy & roadmap.
• Familiar with sustainability, and regulatory requirements for bioenergy feedstocks, and life cycle principles

Other

Travel: Up to 25%. Travel between the various locations (in the UK, US, LATAM, Europe, India, and China) may be required.

Why join us

At bp, we support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and exciting environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly. There are many aspects of our employees' lives that are important, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, and excellent retirement benefits, among others! How much do we pay ? 100- 145K. *Note that the base pay range listed for this position is a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible base compensation at the time of posting. This position is eligible for US Benefits – Core. This position offers paid vacation depending on your years of relevant industry experience and will range from 120-240 hours if vacation per year for full time employees (60-240 hours of vacation per year for part time employees). You will also be eligible for 9 paid holidays per year and 2 personal choice holidays. You may learn more about how we calculate paid vacation and view our generous benefits at Core U.S. Benefits SPD. Bp has a paternal leave policy as well, which offers up to 8 weeks' paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. Learn more by visiting Core U.S. Benefits SPD. We offer a reward and wellbeing package to enable your work to fit with your life. These offerings includes a discretionary annual bonus program, long-term incentive program, and a generous 401K matching program. You may learn more about our generous benefits at Core U.S. Benefits SPD. As a part of bp's wellbeing package bp offers access to health, vision and dental insurance, as well as short-term disability and long-term disability. You may learn more about our generous benefits at Core U.S. Benefits SPD. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Travel Requirement

Up to 25% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills:

Agronomy, Critical Thinking, Plant Biology, Problem Solving, Structural Biology, Sustainability

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp's recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.