dot.
Principal Scientist, Analytical Chemist - Odour Discovery
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Why Arctech Innovation, a department of dot
(Home | Arctech Innovation | Pest, Vector & Disease Detection & Control)
At Digital Odour Technologies (dot, Home | Dot), we turn the hidden signals of scent into intelligence that helps the world live smarter, predicting risks, preventing outbreaks, and protecting lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Our work spans four core verticals: human health, animal health, plant health, and environmental health.
We are a mission-driven team passionate about solving real-world problems through science-led innovation. Our culture is grounded in our core values – integrity, innovation, impact, partnership, and responsibility – which guide how we work together, support our clients and partners, and uphold our responsibility to the communities and ecosystems impacted by our work.
Whatever your role at dot, you’ll be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking environment that values scientific excellence, creative problem-solving, and a shared commitment to making a meaningful difference.
The opportunity
We are seeking a Principal Scientist to play a key role in odour discovery platform, from odour sampling strategy to the identification of odour biomarkers, across multiple product programmes.
In this role, you will collaborate closely with scientific project managers, sensor engineers, data scientists, and product teams, to build and refine odour datasets that are biologically meaningful, reproducible, and aligned with real-world product applications. Your work will directly contribute to advancing next-generation odour sensing technologies and machine learning capabilities.
This is a highly applied, hands-on position, ideal for someone who enjoys working at the interface of biology, chemistry, data science, and technology, and who is motivated by translating scientific insight into impactful products. The role is full-time, with a minimum of four days per week on-site.
Key Responsibilities
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Analytical Chemistry
- Maintain, troubleshoot, and ensure optimal performance of analytical instrumentation, including GC-MS and GC-FID systems.
- Conduct analysis of complex odour samples using advanced chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques.
- Develop, optimize, and validate analytical methods for odour profiling.
- Establish and maintain robust procedures to ensure reliable, reproducible, and high-quality analytical data over time.
Data Interpretation & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Apply appropriate statistical methods to analytical datasets, working closely with data scientists and statisticians.
- Interpret chromatographic and mass spectral outputs to generate biologically and commercially relevant insights.
- Strengthen digital ways of working by contributing to automated data processing, reproducible analytical workflows, and structured data practices that enhance traceability, consistency, and data-to-insight efficiency.
Odour Sampling & Experimental Design
- Design, execute, and refine odour sampling protocols across insects, animal, human, and environmental systems.
- Support odour sampling activities in both laboratory and field environments.
- Identify sources of variability and noise in biological datasets and implement strategies to minimize them.
- Drive continuous improvement in experimental design, methodologies, and associated equipment.
Standards, Quality & Best Practice
- Support scientific governance and quality initiatives in collaboration with senior leadership.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation of methods, experiments, analytical results, and conclusions.
- Lead the development and refinement of protocols, SOPs, and internal best practice guidelines.
- Provide mentoring and training to junior scientists where appropriate
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means becoming the trusted expert in odour collection and analysis, delivering high-quality data that is consistently translated into meaningful biological and commercial insights.
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Within your first 12 months, you will have:
- Maintained reliable analytical systems: Analytical instruments operating consistently with minimal downtime, supported by strong maintenance and troubleshooting practices.
- Delivered high-quality data through robust methods: Developed and applied validated methods and experimental designs that generate accurate, consistent results trusted across the organisation.
- Generated actionable insights: Effectively interpreted complex odour datasets and translated them into clear biological and commercial conclusions through cross-functional collaboration.
- Enhanced data workflows: Contributed to the development of automated, structured, and traceable data processes that enhance reproducibility, efficiency, and knowledge sharing.
- Promote high standards and team development: Maintained high-quality documentation, improved SOPs, and provided mentorship to strengthen team capability, consistency, and scientific rigour.
Requirements
Essential
- MSc or PhD in Chemical Ecology, Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, or a closely related field
- Strong hands-on experience with GC-MS and GC-FID instrumentation
- Demonstrated ability to develop and validate analytical methods.
- Ability to work with complex, noisy biological datasets
- Confidence interpreting chromatographic and mass-spectral data.
- Clear communication skills and comfort working across technical disciplines
Desirable
- Experience working with biological odours (e.g., insects, animals, humans, plants)
- Familiarity with statistical analysis and/or collaboration with machine-learning teams
- Industry, start-up, or applied R&D experience
What This Role Is Not
- This is not an academic research leadership role
- There are no publication or grant-writing requirements
- There is no direct people-management responsibility
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