Postdoctoral Research Associate - Engineering

Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Engineering to develop and scale microbial fermentation processes for bio-based chemicals, fuels, and materials.

You will set up bioreactors, optimize culture conditions and advance processes toward pilot-scale applications. The role requires a PhD or equivalent terminal degree and experience in fermentation, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess analytics, with strong collaboration and documentation skills

Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent terminal or doctoral degree required.
• Experience in fermentation process development and bioreactor operation preferred.
• Strong skills in data analysis, process optimization and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize microbial fermentation processes for bio-based products.
• Set up bioreactors, control culture conditions, and run scale-up experiments.
• Analyze process performance and support technology transfer to pilot scale.
• Perform HPLC-based analytics and ensure safety and thorough documentation.

Skills

Synthetic biology

Metabolic engineering

Fermentation

Bioprocess analytics

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

PhD or equivalent

Doctoral degree in a relevant field

Job description

## Postdoctoral Research Associate - EngineeringApply: On Campus/Onsite: Washington University Danforth Campus: Full time: Posted Today: JR98115# **Location**ST. LOUIS, MO 63130# **Position Summary**We are seeking a motivated and technically skilled Fermentation Engineer to develop, optimize, and scale up microbial fermentation processes for the production of bio-based chemicals, fuels, biomaterials, and other value-added bioproducts. The successful candidate will set up bioreactors and downstream processes, design and conduct fermentation experiments, optimize culture conditions and bioreactor operations, analyze process performance, and support the scale-up of laboratory processes toward pilot-scale and industrial applications.# **Job Description****Primary Duties & Responsibilities:**Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/. Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):* Fermentation Process Development; Bioreactor Operation; Scale-Up and Technology Transfer; HPLC based Analytical and Data Analysis; Safety and Documentation. **Salary Range:** Base pay is commensurate with experience.The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.# **Required Qualifications****Education:**Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.**Certifications****/Professional Licenses****:**No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.**Work Experience:**No specific work experience is required for this position.**Skills:**Not Applicable**Driver's License:**A driver's license is not required for this position.# **More About This Job****Preferred Qualifications:*** Skills with synthetic biology and metabolic engineering.* Experience with microbial cultivation, fermentation process and bio-separation development, and bioreactor operation.* Understanding of microbial physiology, fermentation kinetics, metabolic flux analysis, mass transfer, and bioprocess engineering principles.* Experience with experimental design, process optimization, data analysis, and technical documentation.* Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.# **Preferred Qualifications****Education:**No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.**Certifications****/Professional Licenses****:**No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.**Work Experience:**No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.**Skills:**Not Applicable# **Questions**For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.# **Accommodation**If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [e-mail] or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.# **Pre-Employment Screening**All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.# **Benefits Statement**Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.