R&D Microbiologist

About Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC

Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC is a leading manufacturer of high-quality feed ingredients, dedicated to improving animal health and nutrition through innovative technologies. Our company is committed to delivering exceptional products and services to the aquaculture and animal feed industries.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled R&D Microbiologist to join our team in improving fermentation processes at the bench scale and in coordination with the plant scale. As a key member of our research and development team, you will play a lead role in tackling key challenges in producing novel products via a fermentation process for a variety of markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Improvement: Integrate molecular genetic tools and external networks to enhance fermentation effectiveness and rapid standardization of quality via PCR.
• Experiment Planning and Execution: Support and sometimes lead the planning and execution of R&D experiments, including microbiology-specific activities or other product characterization and process understanding experiments.
• Microbial Fermentation Processes: Develop and implement microbial fermentation processes and associated micro-analytical techniques (lab scale).
• Strain Evaluation and Optimization: Evaluate microbial strains and optimize fermentation parameters for the purpose of optimizing production rates and costs.
• Scientific Approach: Promote scientific and data-driven approaches to pose research questions, solve problems, and troubleshoot processes.
• Process Optimization: Identify avenues for improvements of fungi and fermentation parameters to drive growth, protein production, and desired phenotypes.
• Experiment Design and Execution: Design and execute experiments firsthand focused on fungal morphology, physiology, growth optimization, and nutrient requirements.
• Process Analysis: Optimize fermentation pipelines by continually running analyses for KPIs utilizing expertise, analytical equipment, and external analyses.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborate and work with a small and highly professional team of scientists and specialists in a multi-site and dynamic setting.
• Work Environment: Work includes both on-bench as well as in the pilot and production plant.

Requirements

• Education: MSc/PhD in the field of Life Sciences with expertise in molecular biology.
• Travel and Work Environment: Ability to travel as required and work in an industrial processing environment.
• Industry Experience: Relevant industry experience in developing, optimizing, and characterizing microbial bio-manufacturing processes using advanced methods.
• Deep Understanding of Fermentation and Bio-Manufacturing: Deep understanding and hands-on experience of fermentation and bio-manufacturing processes.
• GLP, GMP, and Fermentation Scale-up: Experience with GLP, GMP, and fermentation scale-up processes is an advantage.
• Quick Learning and Scientific Orientation: Quick learner with strong scientific orientation, solid planning, and reasoning skills.
• Self-Management and Teamwork: Self-starter, with self-management skills, order, organization, and accuracy. Ability to work well in multi-site, distributed teams, and external consultants/personnel.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills.
• Collaborative Team Spirit: Collaborative team spirit and positive, can-do attitude.
• Desire to Grow with the Company: Desire to grow together with and within the company.
• Proactive and Innovative: Proactive, innovative, and technically savvy. Demonstrated attitude of purposely identifying areas of improvement and acting to deliver change.
• Comfortable in a Start-up Environment: Comfortable working in a start-up environment and handling dynamic priorities and timelines.
• Prioritization and Time Management: Able to prioritize multiple tasks and meet multiple deadlines throughout the day.