Scientist Downstream Processing (DSP)

European Commission; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A biotechnology start-up is seeking a senior Downstream Processing (DSP) Scientist in Germany. The role involves leading the purification and refining strategy for microbial oils, developing extraction protocols, and transferring lab processes to larger scales. Candidates should possess a PhD in relevant fields with experience in DSP development and a practical mindset. Competitive salary and growth opportunities offered.

Leistungen

Competitive salary

Opportunities for professional development

Involvement in cutting-edge projects

Qualifikationen

• 1-2 years of relevant industrial or applied research experience.
• Knowledge of separation techniques and refining processes.
• Ability to work in a cross-functional environment.

Aufgaben

• Develop and optimize extraction and purification protocols.
• Design and validate refining steps tailored to specific applications.
• Transfer lab-scale processes to pilot and industrial levels.

Kenntnisse

Purification of microbial products

Knowledge of refining processes

Design of Experiments

Hands-on experience with DSP development

Ausbildung

PhD in chemical engineering, biotechnology, or related

MSc with 3-5 years of experience

Tools

Digital lab notebooks

Jobbeschreibung

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Organisation/Company SMEY Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Biological sciences » Biology Technology » Biotechnology Engineering » Chemical engineering Chemistry Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Established Researcher (R3) Country Germany Application Deadline 13 Sep 2025 - 21:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

SMEY cultivates the next generation of high-performance oils through biotechnology and a proprietary AI toolkit.

We tackle critical challenges in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food industries where traditional manufacturing methods often fall short.

As pioneers in precision fermentation, we craft sustainable, tailor-made and unique ingredients that enhance health, ensure full supply chain traceability, and support global scalability.

Job Overview:

We are seeking a senior-level Downstream Processing (DSP) Scientist to lead the purification and refining strategy for microbial oils from lab development to pilot and manufacturing scale. You will build and refine scalable processes, with routine MVP generation to validate products and guide scale-up.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and optimize extraction and purification protocols for microbial oils and other lipids;
• Design and validate refining steps, including degumming, neutralization, bleaching, etc., tailored to the specific end-product application;
• Design and execute the MVP generation in the lab and pilot scales;
• Transfer the lab-scale process to pilot and industrial levels;
• Select and evaluate suitable process equipment and refining aids for different scale and purity requirements;
• Troubleshoot process and scale-up challenges, improve process robustness and sustainability;
• Maintain accurate and organized experimental documentation in digital lab notebooks;
• Work with a cross-functional team to align DSP design with overall development goals.

Qualification:

• PhD in chemical engineering, biotechnology, bioprocess engineering or related with 1-2 years of relevant industrial or applied research experience, or MSc with 3-5 years of experience in DSP development and scale-up;
• Experience in the purification of microbial products, ideally including oils and lipids, but also proteins, polysaccharides, and small molecules;
• Knowledge of refining processes (degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, etc.) and separation techniques (extraction, filtration, centrifugation, drying, etc.);
• Proven experience in Design of Experiments and statistical process optimization;
• Familiarity with pilot-scale operations and ability to transfer lab results into scalable, reproducible processes;
• A practical mindset, documentation skills, and the ability to work in a cross-functional environment with fermentation and analytics teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the development of microbial lipids or fermentative oils;
• Hands-on experience with DSP development and scale-up;
• Knowledge of sustainable DSP approaches or process intensification strategies.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of an exciting and rapidly growing start-up that is transforming the food biotechnology industry;
• Work in a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven environment;
• Hands-on involvement in cutting-edge microbial fermentation projects;
• Competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the position to [e-mail] , using the subject line “DSP Scientist Application".