Senior Microbiologist - Bioprocess Development

Placements24; East London; Hybride; ZAR 1 482 000 - 2 470 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Health insurance

Remote work stipend

Professional development

Home office allowance

Résumé du poste

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Microbiologist to join a remote Bioprocess Development team. You will optimize microbial strains and fermentation conditions to enhance production of biochemicals, applying physiology, genetics, and fermentation tech to scalable processes.

You will collaborate with a global team of scientists and engineers, mentor junior staff, and contribute to robust analytical methods, safety standards, and knowledge sharing across sites while operating effectively from a

Qualifications

• PhD required in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology or related field.
• 7+ years post-doctoral or industry experience in industrial microbiology or bioprocess development.
• Experience with fermentation process development for diverse microorganisms.

Responsabilités

• Lead research to optimize microbial strains for productivity, yield, and robustness in fermentation.
• Design experiments to improve fermentation conditions (media, temperature, pH, aeration).
• Use molecular biology to improve strains (recombinant DNA, metabolic engineering).
• Develop analytical methods to monitor growth and product formation during fermentation.
• Scale-up processes from lab to pilot and industrial scales; troubleshoot.
• Collaborate with downstream processing to improve product recovery.
• Stay updated on industrial microbiology and fermentation tech.
• Author technical reports and present findings; support patent work.

Connaissances

Industrial microbiology

Fermentation process development

Microbial physiology

Genetics

Molecular biology techniques

Analytical methods

Remote collaboration

Problem solving

Technical reporting

Formation

PhD in Microbiology/ Biotechnology/ Molecular Biology

Outils

HPLC

GC

Spectrophotometry

Fermentation equipment

Description du poste

About the Role

Our client, a leader in industrial biotechnology and sustainable manufacturing, is seeking an accomplished Senior Microbiologist to contribute to their Bioprocess Development team. This role, based remotely, will focus on optimizing microbial strains and fermentation processes for the efficient production of valuable biochemicals and bioproducts. You will leverage your expertise in microbial physiology, genetics, and fermentation technology to drive innovation and enhance process efficiency. The ideal candidate is passionate about applying microbiological principles to solve complex industrial challenges and possesses a strong understanding of large-scale fermentation and downstream processing. This is a significant opportunity to advance sustainable industrial practices and contribute to groundbreaking biomanufacturing solutions from a remote setting, collaborating with a global team of scientists and engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research initiatives to optimize microbial strains for enhanced productivity, yield, and robustness in industrial fermentation processes.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate and improve fermentation conditions (media composition, temperature, pH, aeration).
• Utilize molecular biology techniques for strain improvement, including genetic engineering and metabolic pathway engineering.
• Develop and implement robust analytical methods for monitoring microbial growth and product formation during fermentation.
• Scale-up fermentation processes from laboratory to pilot and industrial scales, troubleshooting challenges along the way.
• Collaborate with downstream processing teams to ensure efficient product recovery and purification.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in industrial microbiology, synthetic biology, and fermentation technology.
• Author technical reports, contribute to patent applications, and present findings at scientific meetings.
• Mentor junior microbiologists and provide technical guidance.
• Ensure all research activities comply with relevant safety and regulatory standards.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• A minimum of 7 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in industrial microbiology or bioprocess development.
• Extensive experience with fermentation process development and optimization for a variety of microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, fungi).
• Strong knowledge of microbial physiology, genetics, and metabolism.
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including recombinant DNA technology and genetic manipulation.
• Experience with aseptic techniques and large-scale fermentation equipment.
• Familiarity with analytical techniques used in bioprocess monitoring (e.g., HPLC, GC, spectrophotometry).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a systematic approach to experimental design.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, suitable for technical reporting and presentations.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a remote team environment.

Benefits

• Unparalleled flexibility
• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• Health insurance
• Retirement contributions
• Home office allowance
• Professional development through online courses, virtual conferences, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration