Senior Microbiologist - Decatur, IL

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Job Title: Senior Microbiologist - Decatur, IL
Location: Decatur, IL, New South Wales, USA

Company: Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
Industry Sector: Agribusiness
Industry Type: Input Retail, Cooperative and Related Crop Services
Career Type: Scientist
Job Type: Full Time

Job Description: Job Description

Senior Microbiologist, Process Micro Team - Decatur, IL - Relocation Assistance Available

Research & Development

This is an exempt level role.

Position Summary

The Senior Microbiologist, Process Micro Team position requires an experienced and lab-focused individual to advance ADM's microbial process research and innovation capabilities. This role will emphasize laboratory experimentation, analytical method development, and data-driven insights to support process optimization and contamination control strategies across ADM's production network.

The successful candidate will apply deep expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, and instrumentation to generate actionable scientific data, lead R&D initiatives, and collaborate cross-functionally with colleagues in Research, Engineering, and Operations. This position will report to Jeanette Skaluba, R&D Director, Process Micro.

Job Responsibilities

Design, execute, and interpret laboratory experiments focused on microbial process understanding, optimization, and contamination control.
Develop and apply advanced analytical and molecular biology techniques (e.g., qPCR, sequencing, flow cytometry, spectroscopic and chromatographic methods) to characterize microbial systems.
Lead R&D projects and initiatives originating from the Process Micro team, coordinating timelines, resources, and communication across functional groups.
Support plant operations through data-driven insights and lab-based troubleshooting of process microbiology issues.
Collaborate with plant and research teams to translate laboratory findings into scalable process improvements and technology implementations.
Develop and maintain laboratory instrumentation methods and data analysis workflows to ensure high-quality, reproducible results.
Contribute to contamination control strategies and sanitary process design through experimental validation and risk-based approaches.
Communicate findings, recommendations, and technical reports to stakeholders across R&D and Operations.
Ability to travel to ADM locations approximately 15-20% of the time.

Education

BS degree or higher in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Bioprocess Engineering, Food Safety, or a related scientific discipline.
Advanced degree (MS or PhD) preferred.

Experience

5+ years of combined experience in industrial microbiology, bioprocess development, or related laboratory environments.
Demonstrated proficiency in molecular and analytical techniques relevant to microbial process characterization.
Experience with experimental design, data analytics, and interpretation of complex biological datasets.
Proven ability to manage projects and deliver results in cross-functional settings.

Skills and Proficiencies

Strong technical expertise in microbiological and molecular analytical methods.
Proficiency in data analysis tools and software for biological and process data (e.g., statistical packages, visualization tools).
Excellent written and oral communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse, multidisciplinary teams and contribute to ADM's innovation strategy through research excellence.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in laboratory and project execution.

Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:109553BR

#IncludingYou

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM's efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments - environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law

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Job Post Date: 06/06/26