Bob Koester (He/Him)
About Bob Koester (He/Him)
Bob Koester is a Senior Scientific Manager specializing in Product Assessment and Analytics at Benson Hill, where he has worked since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has extensive experience in plant physiology and research.
Work at Benson Hill
Bob Koester currently holds the position of Sr. Scientific Manager, Product Assessment & Analytics at Benson Hill, a role he has occupied since 2021. His responsibilities include overseeing product assessment and analytics to support the company's objectives. Prior to this position, he worked as a Research Scientist in Plant Physiology from 2016 to 2019 and as a Scientific Manager in Physiology from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, he served as a Product Assessment Scientist for eight months in 2019. His tenure at Benson Hill spans multiple roles, demonstrating his expertise in plant biology and product assessment.
Education and Expertise
Bob Koester earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Plant Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied from 2009 to 2014. His undergraduate education also took place at the same institution, where he received a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Honors Integrative Biology with a minor in Chemistry from 2005 to 2009. This educational background provides him with a strong foundation in plant biology and related disciplines, contributing to his professional expertise in scientific management and product assessment.
Background
Before joining Benson Hill, Bob Koester worked at the University of Missouri as a Postdoctoral Fellow from 2015 to 2016. In this role, he engaged in advanced research, furthering his knowledge and experience in plant biology. His academic journey included a significant period as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2009 to 2014, where he contributed to various research projects while completing his doctoral studies.
Professional Experience
Bob Koester has accumulated extensive experience in the field of plant biology through various roles. His professional journey includes positions at Benson Hill, where he transitioned through multiple roles from Research Scientist to Sr. Scientific Manager. His experience also includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri and a graduate research assistantship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This diverse background has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of plant physiology and product assessment.