Senior Scientist II, Cognitive Science, Evaluation Intelligence, L'Oreal Research & Innovation

Senior Scientist II, Cognitive Science, Evaluation Intelligence

Location:

Clark, NJ (Hybrid)

Division:
Research & Innovation (R&I)

Hello, we're L'Oreal, we're not just building brands; we're shaping how the world experiences beauty (and it takes a lot of cool jobs to do it). Intrigued? Keep reading, this might be the opportunity you've been searching for.

Join us at L'Oreal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L'Oreal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oreal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people's lives.

We are seeking a highly operational, hands-on, and data-driven Senior Scientist II - Cognitive Science within our Evaluation Intelligence department. In this role, your primary focus will be the flawless execution of our cognitive study pipeline and the advanced statistical integration of diverse sensory and behavioral datasets to deliver a single, coherent picture of consumer perception.

You will not just theorize - you will build, run, and optimize the operational workflows for cognitive, implicit, explicit, and explicit behavioral studies to deeply understand consumer cognition, perception, and emotional responses to cosmetic formulations, packaging, and digital beauty experiences. Crucially, you will act as the bridge between cognitive neuroscience, sensory science, and data science. You will leverage data fusion and multivariate modeling to connect objective sensory descriptions (sensory panel and expert data) with subjective consumer emotions, cognitive states, and product liking.

This role requires strong project management, proficiency in scientific programming (Python/R), experience in multi-modal data integration, and a clear understanding of how to translate complex data models into global product claims.

1. End-to-End Study Execution & Data Analysis (70%)

• Methodological & Analytical Leadership:
  Design and execute robust, ethically sound, and scientifically rigorous behavioral and cognitive protocols while leading the data integration strategy across multiple sensory modalities (fragrance, color, texture).
• Multi-Modal Data Fusion:
  Merge and analyze heterogeneous datasets including neuro-physiological (EEG, ECG, GSR, eye-tracking),implicit, explicit quantitative surveys, qualitative consumer verbatims, and objective sensory profiling.
• Hands-on Study Operations & Pipeline Automation:
  Program experimental tasks and configure data collection pipelines using behavioral software platforms. Set up, calibrate, and troubleshoot eye-tracking and biometric hardware. Develop reusable, clean data processing pipelines to automate the cleaning, pre-processing, and modeling of raw test data.
• Insight Synthesis & Visualization:
  Convert highly complex multi-dimensional data into clear, compelling narratives and statistical mappings. Deliver strategic, actionable recommendations to formulation chemists and brand teams.

2. Cognitive Claims Substantiation & Scientific Evidence (15%)

• Claims Strategy Support:
  Translate cognitive and sensory findings into robust, consumer-facing product claims in close collaboration with R&I, Legal, and Regulatory teams.

Protocol Design:
Design experimental studies with appropriate statistical power, control groups, and objective metrics necessary to meet strict requirements for claims substantiation.

Data Synthesis for Substantiation Dossiers:
Compile scientific evidence packages, methodology write-ups, and statistical outputs to build robust claims substantiation dossiers.

Vendor & CRO Coordination:
Manage external testing agencies and CROs to ensure outsourced studies are executed according to strict scientific protocols, budget constraints, and delivery timelines.

3. Technology Implementation & Process Optimization (15%)

• Pilot New Technologies:
  Direct the operational testing, validation, and benchmarking of new biometric and digital sensors to assess their readiness for claims support and routine testing.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):
  Write and maintain clear, step-by-step SOPs for all cognitive testing methods to ensure study repeatability, auditability, and consistency.
• Regulatory & Data Compliance:
  Ensure all cognitive evaluations conform to data privacy regulations (such as GDPR/US regulations regarding biometric data) and L'Oreal's internal data-sharing guidelines.

• Ph.D. in Cognitive…