Food Scientist- Nutrition Specialist at mDoc Healthcare

Role Purpose

• You will provide technical leadership in nutrition science for AI health coaching while simultaneously contributing to the development of evidence-based nutritional interventions and food-related health solutions.
• This dual role empowers individuals to take control of their health outcomes through both digital AI coaching and comprehensive self-care programs.

Key Responsibilities

Phase 1: AI Nutrition Content Development (First 3 months)

• Nutrition Framework & Content Creation
• Develop evidence-based nutrition framework tailored for AI health coaching
• Curate and validate nutrition content libraries covering dietary guidelines, portion sizes, food composition, and condition-specific nutrition guidance
• Ensure content alignment with WHO standards, Nigerian dietary guidelines, and cultural practices
• Translate nutrition concepts into simple, accessible responses for users at varying literacy levels

AI Integration & Safety

• Collaborate with AI developers to design nutrition-specific training datasets, prompts, and knowledge bases
• Test AI-generated nutrition responses for accuracy, safety, and clarity
• Define safety thresholds and develop risk identification protocols for nutrition coaching
• Build handoff pathways for higher-risk cases requiring human intervention

Phase 2: Expanded Food Science Role (Ongoing)

Research & Development

• Design and conduct research studies on nutritional interventions for common health conditions in Nigeria
• Analyze food composition, bioavailability, and nutritional density of local Nigerian foods
• Create formulations for nutritional supplements or fortified foods targeting specific health conditions
• Collaborate with clinical teams to validate nutritional interventions through pilot studies

Program Development & Implementation

• Design culturally appropriate nutritional education materials and self-care protocols
• Develop digital nutrition assessment tools and algorithms for the mDoc platform
• Create standardized nutritional screening and monitoring protocols
• Establish quality control measures for nutrition-related program components

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with local food producers, suppliers, and agricultural stakeholders
• Collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, and community health organizations
• Interface with regulatory bodies regarding food safety and nutritional claims
• Engage with healthcare providers to ensure clinical relevance of interventions

Data Management & Analysis

• Collect, analyze, and interpret nutritional and health outcome data
• Develop metrics and KPIs for measuring program effectiveness
• Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations for stakeholders
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations

Key Requirements

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field (PhD preferred)
• Minimum 5 years of experience in food science, nutrition research, or public health nutrition
• Experience working in Nigeria or similar sub-Saharan African contexts
• Experience with international development projects or NGO work preferred

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of food chemistry, microbiology, and nutritional biochemistry
• Strong knowledge of African food systems and cultural dietary practices
• Proficiency in nutritional analysis software and statistical analysis tools (SPSS, R, SAS)
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and quality control systems
• Familiarity with clinical trial design and implementation

Digital & Technology Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel for data analysis
• Experience with database management systems
• Familiarity with digital health platforms and mobile health applications
• Experience with multidisciplinary collaboration in health, digital health, or AI projects (preferred)

Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Proven ability to translate nutrition science into practical, accessible guidance
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability
• Passion for improving public health outcomes
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams
• Results-oriented with attention to detail
• Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment

Deliverables (First 3 months)

• Inception Report - methodology, work plan, and priority nutrition domains
• Nutrition Framework Document - evidence-based guidelines for AI integration
• Validated Nutrition Content Library - culturally tailored content for AI integration
• Testing & Validation Report - AI response testing results and recommendations
• Training Session(s) - capacity-building workshops for internal teams
•  Final Report - summary of activities, deliverables, and recommendations

Compensation & Contract Structure

• Phase 1 (3 months): Monthly consulting payments based on skills, expertise, and
• experience
• Phase 2: Full-time permanent position with competitive salary and benefits
• Opportunity to transition from consulting to permanent employment based on
• performance and mutual interest