Scientist, Strain Engineering
Scientist, Strain Engineering
Employer Active
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Share
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
$ 120000 - 120000
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Join our team:Willow Biosciences now part of Mycofeast Ltd. is a leading biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing industrial manufacturing of pure consistent and sustainable develops and produces highpurity ingredients for personal care food and beverage and pharmaceutical markets. Willows team has a proven track record of developing and commercializing biobased manufacturing processes and products to benefit our B2B partners and their customers.
Job Title: Scientist Strain Engineering
Job Summary: We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Strain Engineer to join our dynamic fastpaced team focused on highthroughput (HTP) enzyme and host engineering in microorganisms particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pichia pastoris and E. coli. The ideal candidate will possess strong molecular biology expertise and handson experience with synthetic biology tools including gene editing highthroughput DNA library construction and strain optimization for bioproduction. This role will be instrumental in designing and executing experiments to improve the performance and yield of engineered microbial strains aligned with our commercial goals.
Key Responsibilities:
- Operate and maintain lab automation systems such as robotic liquid handlers (e.g. Bravo QPix Opentrons).
- Perform standard molecular biology techniques: PCR electrophoresis plasmid isolation and microbial transformation.
- Design and construct both singlegene and combinatorial DNA libraries for strain engineering using internal bioinformatics and molecular biology platforms.
- Develop and optimize protocols for multigene DNA assembly and cloning in yeast and E. coli.
- Track advancements in geneediting technologies and implement novel tools as relevant.
- Contribute to iterative Design/Build/Test/Learn (DBTL) cycles in collaboration with crossfunctional teams.
- Apply knowledge of microbial physiology to resolve biosynthetic bottlenecks and improve pathway productivity.
- Partner with automation and assay teams to build highthroughput screening workflows and scalable platforms.
- Maintain meticulous lab records; experience with ELNs such as Benchling is a plus.
- Analyze DNA sequence and strain performance data providing insights to guide future engineering decisions.
- Improve transformation protocols for highefficiency DNA library integration into microbial hosts.
- Develop and maintain clear documentation including protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Foster strong collaboration with fermentation and analytical teams to deliver optimized production strains.
- Conduct hypothesisdriven wetlab experiments in microtiter plates and shake flasks.
- Uphold lab safety standards and promote excellent housekeeping practices.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Outstanding communication skills (both written and verbal); able to clearly present complex data and experimental results to internal teams.
- Strong scientific reasoning with attention to detail and organization.
- Selfmotivated able to work independently as well as collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
- Eagerness to learn adapt and implement emerging scientific methods and technologies.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities maintain thorough documentation and meet key project milestones.
- Commitment to scientific excellence and continuous improvement.
Education & Experience:
- M.S. with 5 years or Ph.D. with 2 years of experience in molecular biology genetics microbiology biochemistry chemical engineering or related field.
- Proven track record of strain or enzyme engineering using HTP techniques in industrial settings (biotech pharma or life sciences).
- Experience with E. coli S. cerevisiae and/or Pichia pastoris in a strain optimization context.
- Familiarity with automated platforms for DNA library creation transformation homologous recombination and CRISPRbased editing.
- Experience with ELN/LIMS systems and datadriven workflows for small molecule or natural product production.
Employment Details:
- Type: Fulltime Onsite
- Location: Sunnyvale CA US
- Travel: Not required
- Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to perform repetitive tasks using hands and wrists.
- Prolonged periods of standing pipetting and working at a bench.
- Compliance with lab safety practices and PPE usage (lab coat gloves safety glasses).
Compensation & Benefits:
- Competitive salary package
- Generous PTO and company holidays
- Comprehensive medical dental and vision insurance
- Life AD&D short and longterm disability insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan management
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Willow Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race religion color gender sexual orientation gender identity age status as a protected veteran status as an individual with a disability or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided based on qualifications merit and business need.
Employment Type
Full-Time
