Job Description

Principal Scientist, Botanical Identification & Authentication

📍 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

🏢 Schedule: Full-Time, On-Site

💰 Compensation: Top-of-market salary + equity + full benefits

About the Opportunity

A venture-backed laboratory technology company is building a modern testing platform designed to make product safety, purity, and ingredient verification faster, more transparent, and easier for consumer brands.

Backed by leading investors and experienced founders, the company is rethinking how laboratory testing integrates with software—allowing brands to streamline regulatory compliance while using testing data to build consumer trust.

As part of its next phase of growth, the company is launching a Botanical Identification & Authentication division and is seeking a Principal Scientist to build and lead this capability from the ground up.

This is a greenfield leadership opportunity for a scientist who has previously built or led botanical authentication programs and wants to architect a best-in-class system using modern lab infrastructure and scalable processes.

Role Overview

The Principal Scientist, Botanical Identification & Authentication, will design, build, and scale a comprehensive botanical identity testing program.

This role will be responsible for method selection, validation, SOP development, reference library creation, and production-scale testing workflows . You will also serve as the organization’s technical authority on botanical identification , helping internal teams and customers navigate complex ingredient authentication challenges.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with systems thinking , capable of building a rigorous and scalable authentication framework that integrates multiple orthogonal testing methods.

Key Responsibilities

• Build the company’s botanical identification and authentication program , including instrumentation selection, testing menu design, and operational workflows.
• Develop multi-method authentication strategies incorporating techniques such as:
• HPTLC
• Macroscopic and microscopic botanical identification
• DNA barcoding
• Chemical profiling and fingerprinting
• Establish and curate botanical reference libraries , including voucher specimens, chromatographic fingerprints, DNA barcode sequences, and microscopic image datasets.
• Develop SOPs, validation protocols, and documentation frameworks that support repeatability, regulatory alignment, and scalable operations.
• Lead method development and validation efforts aligned with recognized pharmacopeial and botanical testing standards.
• Serve as the organization’s technical authority on botanical identity determinations , helping resolve ambiguous or disputed identifications.
• Train and mentor laboratory staff on botanical authentication techniques to build internal expertise.
• Partner with laboratory leadership and executive teams to prioritize method development and align testing services with customer demand.
• Drive continuous improvements in turnaround time and testing efficiency , applying automation and process optimization where possible.
• Stay current on emerging technologies and regulatory developments in botanical authentication.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• PhD or MS in Botany, Pharmacognosy, Plant Biology, Natural Products Chemistry , or a related field
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in botanical identification and authentication
• Prior experience building or managing a botanical identity testing program , ideally within an analytical or contract testing laboratory

Technical Expertise

• Deep expertise in:
• HPTLC method development and interpretation
• Microscopic and macroscopic botanical identification
• DNA barcoding for species identification
• Experience designing orthogonal authentication strategies using multiple analytical techniques
• Proven experience taking laboratory methods from development through validation and routine production use

Regulatory & Industry Knowledge

• Familiarity with pharmacopeial standards and botanical testing methods
• Working knowledge of dietary supplement and botanical regulatory frameworks
• Experience with quality systems such as ISO 17025 is preferred

Additional Attributes

• Systems thinker with the ability to design scalable laboratory processes
• Strong communicator capable of translating complex scientific concepts into clear guidance
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

Compensation & Benefits

• Top-of-market salary
• Equity participation
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunities for long-term career growth within a rapidly scaling organization

Why This Role

This is a rare opportunity to build a botanical authentication capability from the ground up within a modern laboratory platform backed by experienced founders and strong venture funding.

The team is focused on bringing greater transparency and scientific rigor to consumer products , helping companies verify product integrity while meeting evolving regulatory requirements.

If you’re excited about combining deep botanical science with real-world impact , we’d love to connect.

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