Senior Scientist - Microbiology & Fermentation

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Professional development

Competitive salary

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Scientist with deep Microbiology and Fermentation expertise to join its R&D team in Bloemfontein. You will lead microbial strain optimization, media development, and scale-up of fermentation processes.

The role emphasizes experimental design, analytical methods (HPLC, GC, spectrophotometry), and collaboration with process engineers to move from lab to pilot scale, supporting the development of novel compounds and industrial enzymes.

Qualifications

• PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant industry or academic research experience with microbial fermentation.
• Proven track record in microbial strain screening, genetic modification, and fermentation optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D projects focused on microbial strain improvement and fermentation process optimization.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate microbial performance under various fermentation conditions.
• Develop and implement analytical methods to monitor fermentation progress and product yield.
• Optimize fermentation media and process parameters to maximize productivity and product quality.
• Collaborate with process engineers to scale up fermentation processes from lab to pilot scale.
• Stay current with advancements in microbiology, synthetic biology, and industrial biotechnology.

Skills

Microbiology

Fermentation

Analytical skills

Project management

Education

PhD in Microbiology/Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering

Tools

HPLC

GC

Spectrophotometry

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Scientist with extensive experience in Microbiology and Fermentation to join their innovative research and development team in Bloemfontein . This role is crucial for developing and optimizing microbial processes for the production of novel compounds, biofuels, and industrial enzymes. You will lead projects involving strain selection, media optimization, and scale-up of fermentation processes in a state-of-the-art facility. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of microbial physiology and metabolism, combined with strong practical skills in experimental design and execution within a R&D context.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research and development projects focused on microbial strain improvement and fermentation process optimization.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate microbial performance under various fermentation conditions.
• Develop and implement analytical methods to monitor fermentation progress and product yield.
• Optimize fermentation media and process parameters to maximize productivity and product quality.
• Collaborate with process engineers to scale up fermentation processes from laboratory to pilot scale.
• Stay current with advancements in microbiology, synthetic biology, and industrial biotechnology.

Requirements

• PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant industry or academic research experience, with a focus on microbial fermentation.
• Proven track record in microbial strain screening, genetic modification, and fermentation optimization.
• Hands-on experience with various fermentation equipment and analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, GC, spectrophotometry).
• Strong understanding of microbial physiology, genetics, and metabolic engineering.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and strong project management skills for work in Bloemfontein .

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development, including attending industry conferences.
• Access to advanced fermentation technology and laboratory facilities.
• A collaborative and forward-thinking work environment dedicated to sustainable innovation.