Research Associate, Fermentation
About the position Debut is the unconventional innovation lab spearheading the next generation of big business. Only Debut has a scalable, integrated, climate-positive creation model powered by biotechnology that puts human wellbeing at the center of everything we do—setting the new standard for profitable business and a new pace for an ever-changing world. Our hybrid biotechnology approaches unlock latent markets, providing access to sustainably produced, natural ingredients with health benefits that cannot be obtained through other methods. We are committed to traversing the entire process, from ingredient discovery to the scaling of these products, for consumer markets. If you are passionate, enjoy fast-paced innovation and collaborative teams, then Debut is for you. Debut Biotechnology is seeking a Research Associate to aid in microbial fermentation processes for small molecule production. This individual should be versed in fermentation science and have a basic understanding of microbial physiology, secondary metabolism, and biosynthetic pathways. The ideal candidate would be an energetic, adaptive, creative, and highly self-motivated individual who enjoys undertaking complex challenges both individually and as part of a team. The successful candidate will interact closely with molecular biologists, chemists, and engineers and will be directly responsible for bench-scale bioreactor operation and small molecule product analysis. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills are essential due to the highly collaborative nature of the position.
Responsibilities
- Design and execution of fermentation experiments across multiple volumes
- Optimization of fermentation operations by controlling numerous parameters
- Maintenance of bench-scale bioreactors
- Preparation of media, buffers, and chemical solutions
- Product sampling and chemical/microbiological analysis
- Bioreactor and laboratory material cleaning and sterilization
- Data processing and statistical analysis to maximize understanding of strain performance
- High throughput experiment optimization across multiple reaction volumes
Requirements
- BS in biotechnology, microbiology, or fermentation with a minimum of 2 years of microbiology lab experience
- Attention to detail and meticulous record keeping
- Intermediate/advanced Excel skills
- Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and balance multiple projects
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with small molecule fermentation via genetically engineered organisms is a plus
- Experience applying molecular biology techniques is a plus
- Experience using statistical software to analyze large datasets is a plus
- Experience understanding and running advanced experimental designs is a plus
- Experience interpreting fermentation’s product and byproduct results is a plus