Cultivarium - Senior Scientist, Fungal Synthetic Biology

Convergent Research; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an innovative organization on a mission to revolutionize biotechnology through the engineering of diverse fungal species. As part of a dynamic team, you will leverage your expertise in fungal genetics to develop cutting-edge methods and tools that will contribute to groundbreaking research. This role offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with talented scientists and engineers while working in a supportive and creative environment. If you are passionate about impactful research and thrive in a startup culture, this position is perfect for you. Embrace the chance to make a significant difference in science, technology, and agriculture.

Benefits

Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance

Parental leave

Generous time off + paid holidays

Wellness allowance for fitness activities

Qualifications

• PhD in microbiology or related field required.
• Expertise in filamentous fungi genetics and molecular biology techniques.

Responsibilities

• Develop methods for studying and engineering filamentous fungi.
• Collaborate with engineers for automation and high-throughput systems.

Skills

Fungal Genetics

Molecular Biology Techniques

Creative Problem-Solving

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Education

PhD in Microbiology

PhD in Molecular Biology

PhD in Synthetic Biology

Tools

CRISPR

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Golden Gate Cloning

Microfluidics

Job description

Cultivarium is a Convergent Research focused research organization with a mission to accelerate the adoption of new organisms for biotechnology. We are looking for experts who can contribute both individually and as part of a team to create tangible solutions for a ‘moonshot’ project. This is a great opportunity to be part of a close-knit, driven team of scientists and engineers that are building technological infrastructure for non-model microorganisms, to open new avenues for science, technology, medicine, and agriculture.

We are seeking an innovative scientist with deep expertise in fungal genetics to develop new methods for engineering diverse fungal species. The ideal candidate will have experience working with multiple filamentous fungi (preferably beyond standard models) and a strong ability to invent, implement, and document novel genetic tools. You will work closely with microbiologists, molecular biologists, automation engineers and computational biologists to develop high-throughput transformation and molecular methods. This role requires scientific creativity, technical excellence, and the grit to thrive in a startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize methods for studying and engineering various filamentous fungi.
• Design, construct, and test plasmids, genetic parts, and genome-wide perturbation libraries (e.g., transposons, Targetrons, CRISPR).
• Execute high-throughput cloning methodologies (Golden Gate, isothermal assembly, SLiCE, etc.) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays.
• Discover and characterize novel fungal genetic elements.
• Collaborate with engineers to integrate automation and high-throughput systems.
• Stay at the forefront of fungal genetics research, sourcing and implementing cutting-edge techniques.
• Manage and mentor research staff, ensuring rigorous experimental execution.
• Maintain meticulous documentation, write SOPs, and prepare internal reports and scientific publications.
• Effectively communicate findings internally and externally through presentations and manuscripts.

Qualifications

• PhD in microbiology, mycology, molecular biology, biochemistry, synthetic biology, or a related field.
• Expertise in filamentous fungi genetics with hands-on experience across multiple species.
• Proven success in fungal genetic engineering (e.g., DNA delivery, genome editing, CRISPR, transposons) and molecular biology techniques (e.g., cloning, NGS, protein expression).
• Strong track record of rigorous, high-quality scientific output and record-keeping.
• Experience mentoring research staff and leading scientific initiatives. Comfort with lab automation and high-throughput screening approaches.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to reason from first principles.
• Creative problem-solving mindset with adaptability to shifting priorities.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work independently and in teams.
• Passion for impactful research aligned with our mission.

Advanced Qualifications

• Experience with microscopy, FACS, or microfluidics methods.
• Experience with isolation of environmental fungal samples.

We offer

• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields.
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan; parental leave, generous time off + paid holidays.
• Wellness allowance for fitness and wellness activities.

Convergent Research aims to help fill a structural gap in today's R&D system. We enable fundamental research that requires unusual levels of scale and coordination yet is not rapidly monetizable by industry. We’re bringing together top talent from academia, industry, and startups to build a new model for innovative R&D. As an incubator within the Schmidt Futures Network, we identify high-impact scientific or technical research and development opportunities, ultimately defining and launching these projects as Focused Research Organizations.

Convergent Research, LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.