Customer Microbiology Lab Specialist

Kemin; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Bonus opportunities

401k match

Paid vacation

Health & wellness perks

Career development

Tuition reimbursement

Community involvement

Job summary

Kemin Industries is seeking a Customer Laboratory Services Associate (CLS) to join the Kemin Animal Nutrition & Health (KANA) unit. The CLS role blends customer sample testing with applied microbiology research in a collaborative lab setting.

Responsibilities include processing and analyzing samples using pour plating, serial dilutions, PCR, and mold/yeast detection while following aseptic and BSL-2 practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology or related field with emphasis on microbiology and 1–3 years of lab experience.
• Experience with aseptic technique, media prep, autoclave, and pour-plate methods.
• Experience handling BSL-2 microbes and safety equipment.
• Strong time management, attention to detail, and team collaboration.
• Proficiency with MS Access preferred.

Responsibilities

• Execute CLS procedures for receipt, chain-of-custody, and reporting of microbiological results for customer samples.
• Perform microbiological analysis of customer samples.
• Help develop and translate new microbiology procedures.
• Prioritize analyses to meet CLS turnaround goal (95% on time).
• Assist in protocol development to demonstrate product efficacy in customer applications.
• Prepare CLS reports and contribute to trial documents and literature.
• Review CLS procedures for accuracy and applicability.

Skills

Aseptic technique

Media preparation

Autoclave procedures

Pour-plate methodology

MS Access (adv)

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Biology or related field

Tools

Microsoft Access

Job description

Kemin Industries is seeking a Customer Laboratory Services Associate (CLS) to join the Kemin Animal Nutrition & Health (KANA) unit. The CLS role blends customer sample testing with applied microbiology research in a collaborative lab setting.

Responsibilities include processing and analyzing samples using pour plating, serial dilutions, PCR, and mold/yeast detection while following aseptic and BSL-2 practices.