Contract Sensory Panelist (Fragrance)

At Osmo we are a digital olfaction company on a mission to give computers a sense of smell to improve the health and wellbeing of human life. Our sense of smell both enriches and saves lives, and has a deep and direct connection to our emotions and memory. Olfactory Intelligence has applications across industries including fragrance, manufacturing, security, medicine, and more. We believe in the power of automation and thoughtfully applied AI/ML to solve problems beyond the reach of human intuition alone. Osmo is headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, with an additional office in Somerville, MA.

About the role

Osmo is seeking a highly meticulous and olfactively acute individual to join our team as a Contract Sensory Panelist (Fragrance). This is a specialized, part-time contract role dedicated exclusively to generating high-quality sensory data that fuels our Olfactory Intelligence models. Successful candidates will utilize their superior sense of smell to characterize the behavior, performance, and stability of fragrance compounds and fragrance formulas, directly contributing to the digitization of scent. We are looking for individuals with a genuine passion for fragrance and a methodical approach to objective evaluation.

Contract Details

Position Type: Part-Time Contract (90 day probationary period at 20 hours with a potential for 30 hours with benefits)
On-Site Hours: 6 hours per day onsite, 5 days/week but only 4 hours of evaluation with 2 mandatory 30 minute breaks and a 1-hour break.
Hourly Rate: $30/hour for 4 hours of evaluation
Location: Elizabeth, New Jersey

Responsibilities

• Dedicated Olfactory Evaluation: Since smelling is an essential function of this role, you will spend a set number of hours per day actively smelling and evaluating fragrance samples in various formats.
• Data Annotation: Generate highly precise, objective sensory data by performing character and intensity annotations based on Osmo’s internal scales and taxonomic lexicon.
• Stability & Performance Testing: Evaluate the evolution of odor profiles over time, measuring fragrance integrity and performance in samples pulled from stability chambers and various application tests.
• Panel Participation & Protocol Adherence: Act as a dedicated, reliable sensory panelist, rigorously following established protocols and maintaining the highest standards of objectivity and focus.
• Training & Calibration: Participate in required training sessions to ensure high alignment with other panelists and consistency across data points.

Requirements

• Proven Olfactory Acuity: Demonstrated ability to reliably perceive, differentiate, and describe nuanced odor characteristics is essential. (Candidates will be required to pass a sensory acuity screening.)
• Focus and Discipline: Proven ability to maintain a high level of concentration and meticulousness during long-duration, repetitive sensory tasks.
• Methodical Approach: A methodical, objective mindset capable of separating personal preference from analytical sensory assessment.
• Aptitude for Learning: Eagerness and ability to quickly learn and apply Osmo’s internal scales, definitions, and complex olfactive taxonomy.
• Reliability: High level of professionalism, reliability, and commitment to the scheduled daily working hours.

Skills

• Passion for Scent: A genuine, deep-seated passion for fragrance or olfactory science.
• Descriptive Vocabulary: Experience articulating sensory perceptions using descriptive language beyond simple hedonic (like/dislike) terms.
• Scientific Interest: Background or strong interest in chemistry, biology, or psychology, providing a basis for understanding how scent functions.

Pay

Hourly Rate: $30/hour for 4 hours of evaluation

Schedule

On-Site Hours: 6 hours per day onsite, 5 days/week but only 4 hours of evaluation with 2 mandatory 30 minute breaks and a 1-hour break.