Senior Scientist - Microbiology & Fermentation

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Professional development

Advanced lab equipment

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist specializing in Microbiology and Fermentation to join their research team in Kimberley, South Africa. You will lead microbial process development and optimize fermentation strategies for production of valuable compounds.

The role requires a PhD or MSc in relevant fields, at least five years industrial microbiology and scale-up experience, and strong laboratory skills.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in a related field and hands-on industrial microbiology experience.
• Experience with fermentation scale-up and microbial cultivation.
• Strong problem-solving and laboratory discipline.

Responsibilities

• Design, conduct and optimize lab-scale and pilot-scale fermentation processes with microorganisms.
• Develop molecular and microbiological methods for strain improvement and characterization.
• Monitor and control fermentation parameters to maximize yield and quality.
• Analyze data, troubleshoot deviations, implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with downstream teams to integrate outputs; contribute to literature.

Skills

Microbiology

Fermentation

Upstream process development

Laboratory skills

Problem-solving

Education

Ph.D. in Microbiology

MSc in Biotechnology

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist specializing in Microbiology and Fermentation to join their innovative research team in Kimberley . This role is central to developing and optimizing microbial processes for the production of valuable compounds. You will lead research initiatives, design fermentation strategies, and troubleshoot complex biological systems. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of microbial physiology, fermentation technology, and upstream process development, coupled with strong practical laboratory skills and a commitment to scientific excellence within a dedicated research facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and optimize laboratory-scale and pilot-scale fermentation processes using various microorganisms.
• Develop and implement molecular and microbiological techniques for strain improvement and characterization.
• Monitor and control fermentation parameters to maximize yield and product quality.
• Analyze fermentation data, troubleshoot process deviations, and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with downstream processing teams to ensure seamless integration of fermentation outputs.
• Contribute to scientific literature and present findings at industry conferences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in industrial microbiology and fermentation process development.
• Proven expertise in microbial cultivation, aseptic techniques, and fermentation scale-up.
• Experience with analytical methods for monitoring microbial growth and product formation.
• Strong understanding of microbial physiology and genetics.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a laboratory setting in Kimberley .

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Support for professional development, including training courses and relevant certifications.
• Access to advanced fermentation equipment and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
• A collaborative and forward-thinking work environment dedicated to bioprocess innovation.