Hiring Research Associate – Bacterial Strain Engineering & Fermentation | Microbeworks

Job Description

Job Opening Alert!
 
We’re looking for a Research Associate – Bacterial Strain Engineering & Fermentation to join our team at Microbeworks. In this role, you’ll construct and optimise bacterial strains for pigment and dye production, run lab and pilot‑scale fermentations, maintain strain libraries, and analyse experimental and partner‑generated data. You’ll also interface with our external fermentation partners to coordinate batches and review scale‑up processes.
 
If you have an MSc/MTech in Microbiology, Biotechnology or a related life sciences field, 1–3 years of hands‑on experience in bacterial microbiology, molecular/synthetic biology and/or fermentation, and you enjoy working in a small, deep‑tech startup with lots of ownership, we’d love to hear from you.
 
📍 C‑CAMP, Bengaluru | Full‑time, on‑site
👉 Apply via
https://microbeworks.zohorecruit.in/jobs/Careers/144304000001261039/Research-Associate?source=CareerSite.
or the QR in the posters

Job Description

The Research Associate will support development of microbe‑based dye and pigment production by combining bacterial strain construction, microbiology, and fermentation process optimization in a laboratory setting. The role focuses on designing and executing experimental workflows from bench‑scale strain engineering through lab‑ and pilot‑scale fermentation, with tight linkage to product development milestones. Responsibilities include experimental design, hands‑on execution, data analysis, documentation, and close collaboration with the founding and R&D teams.

Key responsibilities

Strain construction & synthetic biology

• Design and execute genetic modifications in bacterial strains using cloning, genome editing, and other synthetic biology tools, in line with project milestones and experimental plans.
• Develop and refine strain engineering strategies to improve product  yield, robustness, and process performance, including construction and characterization of expression systems and pathway variants.
• Maintain detailed records of plasmid maps, strain lineage, and construct performance in electronic lab notebooks and project documentation.

Bacterial microbiology & lab operations

• Perform routine bacterial microbiology tasks including aseptic cultivation, maintenance of strain libraries, and preparation of media, buffers, and consumables.
• Conduct microbiological assays (e.g., growth curves, viability counts) and ensure high‑quality, reproducible data for process development
• Adhere to biosafety and good laboratory practices including proper handling of bacterial cultures, waste management, and equipment maintenance.

Fermentation & bioprocess development

• Execute bench‑scale and, where applicable, pilot‑scale fermentations using shake flasks and bioreactors, including setup, inoculation, monitoring, and harvest.
• Monitor and control key process parameters (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, agitation, feeding strategies, antifoam, gassing) and implement process changes to improve productivity and robustness.
• Support upstream and basic downstream activities such as medium preparation, sterilization (autoclave, SIP), sampling, and simple product recovery operations according to SOPs and batch records.

·       Interface with external fermentation partners to track, coordinate, and review scale‑up processes, including planning and monitoring batches, reviewing process and quality data, and supporting troubleshooting at partner facilities.

·       Act as an operational point of contact for external fermentation partners to coordinate batch schedules, align process parameters with internal R&D goals, and ensure timely sharing and review of fermentation data and reports.

Data analysis, documentation, and collaboration

• Analyze experimental and fermentation data using appropriate quantitative methods and basic statistical tools; prepare clear reports, presentations, and updates for internal reviews and external partners.
• Contribute to experimental planning by reviewing relevant literature, proposing new ideas, and participating in regular project and cross‑functional meetings.

Requirements

Required skills and competencies

• Strong hands‑on skills in bacterial microbiology, including aseptic techniques, culture maintenance, and basic phenotypic assays.
• Practical experience with molecular biology and synthetic biology methods (e.g., cloning, PCR, transformation, plasmid design/assembly, genome editing) applied to bacterial systems.
• Working knowledge of microbial fermentation, including operation of lab‑scale fermenter or parallel bioreactor systems, process monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to design and execute experiments, manage timelines, and deliver results against project milestones in a fast‑paced R&D environment.
• Proficiency in data handling and basic analysis using common tools (e.g., Excel or equivalent), with clear written and oral communication skills for technical reporting.
• High attention to detail, strong documentation habits, and ability to work both independently and in close collaboration with small, interdisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (M.Sc. or M.Tech) in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Fermentation or a closely related life sciences discipline
• 1–3 years of relevant research or industry experience in bacterial microbiology, synthetic biology, and/or fermentation; exceptional fresh graduates with substantial project or internship experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with bacterial strain construction and/or microbial fermentation in an academic, industrial, or startup lab setting.

Preferred

• Experience with microbial pigment or metabolite production, or other bio-manufacturing applications.
• Prior exposure to early‑stage biotech or deep‑tech startups, showing adaptability, initiative, and comfort with evolving processes and responsibilities.
• Familiarity with electronic lab notebooks, basic statistical tools, and process modelling or data visualization software used in fermentation R&D.