Senior Scientist II, R&I Cognitive Science, Evaluation Intelligence

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Senior Scientist II, R&I Cognitive Science, Evaluation Intelligence

senior · Data Science & Analytics

Senior Scientist II, Cognitive Science, Evaluation Intelligence

Location: Clark, NJ (Hybrid)

Division: Research & Innovation (R&I)

Hello, we’re L’Oréal, 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.

Who We Are

Join us at L’Oréal, 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’Oréal 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'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives.

Position Overview

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.

Key Responsibilities

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’Oréal’s internal data-sharing guidelines.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

• Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, Cognitive Psychology, Sensory Science, Computational Neuroscience, Data Science, or a related quantitative field with 3+ years of direct industry/applied research experience; or a Master’s degree with 5+ years of equivalent experience.

Technical & Data Science Skills:

• Neurophysiological Testing: Hands-on experience in conducting human-subject studies using neurophysiological measurements (EEG/ECG/GSR, eye-tracking, or facial coding).
• Programming Proficiency: Strong proficiency in Python or R for data cleaning, statistical modeling, and data visualization (libraries such as pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, ggplot2, etc.).
• Data Integration & Fusion: Demonstrated experience integrating heterogeneous datasets (e.g., combining time-series physiological data with discrete sensory panel scores or text/survey data).
• Statistical Mastery: Expert knowledge of multivariate analysis, predictive modeling (e.g., Random Forests, regression), clustering techniques (for product classification), and Dimensionality Reduction (PCA, MCA, MDS).
• Hardware Troubleshooting: Demonstrated ability to set up, calibrate, and troubleshoot technical hardware and biosensors under pressure in a live testing environment.

Soft Skills:

• Operational Drive: Outstanding organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple testing schedules and deliver reliable, compliant data on tight product development timelines.
• Strategic Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication (written/oral) skills, with a proven ability to translate complex statistical models and cognitive data into clear business insights for non-scientific stakeholders (e.g., marketing, brand managers, business leaders).

• Collaborative Mindset: Curious, open-minded, and a dedicated team player who thrives in a highly cross-functional environment.
• Versatility: Proven ability to work efficiently both as an autonomous individual contributor and as an active collaborator within global project teams.

What's In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you'll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there's no sitting on the sidelines at L'Oréal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal/environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Base Salary Range: $90,200 – $128,500 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level)
• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)
• Hybrid Work Policy (Up to 2 days per week work from home for eligible roles, subject to manager approval)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L'Oréal's Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs

Don't meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We're committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual's gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.