Sr. Scientist, Fungal Strain Engineer

"We're disrupting the alt. protein space with the world’s first whole-muscle cut seafood alternative"

POSITION SUMMARY

We are actively seeking an experienced Senior Scientist & Fungal Strain Engineer to join our team. The successful candidate will serve as the resident technical expert on microbiology of filamentous fungi. They will also define and deduce optimal mechanical properties for the eating quality and nutritional profile of myriad seafood products (squid, shrimp, fin fish, etc).

This is a high impact position within a fast-paced and growing company. Individuals with hands-on experience and technical acumen to drive research projects from ideation-to-commercialization are encouraged to apply.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement strain improvement strategies for producing proteins, and for engineering strains which will become the workhorse for protein production at commercial scale
• Performing hands-on experiments aimed at defining filamentous fungal nutrient requirements and optimization
• Develop productive working relationships with scientists within the department, and other colleagues across R&D and non-R&D departments within the organization
• Understand and design strategies for regulating protein secretory pathways to optimize our organism’s abilities to overexpress desired proteins
• Keep up to date with relevant scientific and intellectual literature
• Prepare and present technical reports, data summaries, protocols and other technical and regulatory documentations
• Participate in developing the intellectual property strategy and drafting patent applications in collaboration with peers and the legal team
• Provide data-driven insights to solve technical challenges and make decisions

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Chemical Engineering or a related technical field with 2-8 years of related experience
• Strong technical background in strain engineering of filamentous fungus through classical mutagenesis and genetic engineering approaches
• Strong background in developing novel high throughput techniques for culturing and screening strain libraries
• Technical expert in developing and optimizing growth conditions and propagation of filamentous fungi
• Experience in leading and training research associates and/or other scientists
• Comfortable working in a start-up environment
• Other desired skills include excellent communication, ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and good aptitude for data analysis and documentation

CORE VALUES

• Team building/Relationship Building - Develops relationships with people throughout the facility
• Communication - Speaks and writes effectively, and keeps people up to date with information. Maintains lab notebooks and testing documentation
• Innovation - Generates innovative ideas and solutions to problems and stimulates others to continuous improvement

COVID-19 VACCINE

In order to maintain a safe work environment, employees will be required to provide proof of vaccination on or before first day of employment.

LOCATION

Selected candidate will work on-site with our team in Chicago Office. Remote work is not available for this role.

COMPANY BENEFITS

We offer a robust benefits package including paid time off, medical, dental and vision benefits.

NEXT STEPS:

To express your interest, please provide a short cover letter telling us why you’re perfect for this role, along with a resume detailing your experience.

Qualified Applicants will not require employer sponsored work authorization now or in the future for employment in the United States.

At Aqua Cultured Foods, we are committed to building a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workforce. We take being an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer seriously and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act), or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

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