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• EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries
• The Center for Food Challenges supports bold, high-risk, high-reward research initiatives that aims at tackling key societal challenges in the food system space. We aim to overcome them by designing, building, and executing transformative research programs that can radically improve food systems for all. We pursue three core missions:
• Preventing and treating Non-Communicable Diseases through nutrition
• Addressing soil impoverishment and erosion while ensuring agricultural productivity

Resilient, flexible food production that delivers healthy, convenient products across scales

We emphasize focused, mission-oriented execution and measurable impact

Position Summary

• The Field Strategist support the executive director in designing, develops, and managing individual, ambitious research initiatives focused on the Future Food Factory mission. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this entrepreneurial role involves contributing to initiative scoping, strategies and fundraising narratives, and stakeholders’ coordination. You will deeply engage with laboratories, researchers, and frontline implementers, collecting field insights and contributing to the development of actionable strategies and compelling narratives for fundraising efforts
• Conduct detailed literature reviews to identify and understand in depth key challenges across relevant research domains from process engineering, to biotechnology, automation/ robotics, and modelling
• Analyze and synthesize state-of-the-art literature across multiple fields
• Plan and execute structured interviews with academic professors and external subject-matter experts
• Review, analyze, and distill insights from interview notes and recordings
• Attend technical events, conferences, and seminars to gather insights and identify emerging trends
• Develop and maintain robust relationships with professors, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders, providing regular updates and maintaining engagement
• Contribute actively to the preparation and writing of proposals for funding and collaborative initiatives
• Create clear and engaging communication materials, including slide decks, concise briefing documents, one-pagers, and website content

Profile

• Required Qualifications (what is required to succeed in the job):
• Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm to thrive in dynamic, evolving environments, proactively identifying opportunities and creatively overcoming challenges relevant to the Future Food Factory mission (Ph.D. or equivalent experience)
• Experience in conducting literature reviews and synthesizing complex scientific information across different domains clearly and concisely
• Ability to distill insights from qualitative sources while applying rigorous quantitative analysis to validate and contextualize those findings
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills to extract actionable insights from diverse sources
• Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of effectively engaging with academic and professional experts
• Proactive, adaptable mindset, who thrive in collaborative environments
• Preferred Qualifications (what might help):
• Experience or exposure to research in process system engineering/ control engineering, food process engineering / chemical engineering, food/industrial biotechnology, industrial engineering, or AI related approches to the above topics
• Experience in developing and crafting compelling fundraising materials (slide decks, briefs, content)
• Prior experience within research-driven, philanthropic, or other fundraising environments

We offer

• The chance to make a tangible impact on society
• Engaging work addressing critical global challenges
• A diverse, stimulating, and interdisciplinary environment
• Continuous professional growth through hands-on learning

Duration: 1 year (renewable)