Open Position at Iuva Labs Mumbai

Job Description

Position: Research Investigator (Molecular Biology)
Who are we?
We are a start-up dedicated to producing sustainable food-grade proteins using recombinant
DNA technology and precision fermentation.
Location: IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
Compensation: as per industry standards
Apply at: Send an email to cso@iuvalife.com
Qualifications:

• PhD in Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Life Sciences with 0-2 years of experience
  specific to molecular biology of bacteria or yeast
  Key Responsibilities:
• Yeast Molecular Biology:
  o Develop and execute strain engineering strategies for recombinant protein production using yeast strains such as Pichia pastoris.
  o Perform routine genetic engineering experiments such as PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, transformation, and SDS-PAGE.
• Lab Management:
  o Support the maintenance of lab equipment and cultures, ensuring smooth operation of fermenters and other bioprocessing equipment.
  o Perform routine lab tasks, including preparing media, sterilizing glassware, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.
  o Handle bioanalytical techniques such as SDS-PAGE, western blotting, and other relevant assays.
  
• Data Analysis and Reporting:
  o Record and analyze experimental data accurately, ensuring consistency and reliability.
  o Prepare detailed documentation of experiments, including lab notebooks and data sheets.
  o Assist in preparing reports and presentations of experimental findings for team discussions.
  o Engage with consultants and auditors to troubleshoot, optimize, and standardize experimental processes and techniques
• Team Leadership and Execution:
  o Supervise and mentor junior researchers, ensuring successful execution and monitoring of R&D projects.
  o Guide team members in experimental planning, culture maintenance, and analytical processes (e.g., SDS-PAGE, western blotting, bioanalytical techniques).
• Strategic Contributions:
  o Collaborate with the leadership team to provide insights into process strategies and contribute to strategic decision-making for project goals.
  o Train team members on SOPs, analytical methods, and documentation processes.
  Key Competencies:
• Proven experience in handling recombinant protein expression, strain engineering, and lab management
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
• Ability to manage projects independently and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and data recording skills.
  
  Position: Research Investigator (Computational Biology)
  Who are we?
  We are a start-up dedicated to producing sustainable food-grade proteins using recombinant DNA technology and precision fermentation.
  Location: IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
  Compensation: as per industry standards
  Apply at: Send an email to cso@iuvalife.com
  Qualifications:
• PhD in Computational Biology, Bioengineering, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Chemical Engineering, or Life Sciences with 1–3 years of hands-on experience (post-PhD
  or industry) in metabolic modeling, flux analysis, and omics data integration for microbial production hosts (bacteria, fungi, and yeasts).
  Key Responsibilities:
  Genome-Scale Metabolic Modeling (GEMs) & Bottleneck Identification:
• Reconstruction & Gap-Filling: Reconstruct, curate, and refine dynamic, strain-specific genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) for microbial expression hosts using constraint-based frameworks (COBRA, Flux Balance Analysis / FBA, Flux Variability Analysis / FVA).
• In Silico Strain Engineering: Predict cellular bottlenecks, metabolic sinks, and energy/cofactor limitations (e.g., ATP, NADH/NADPH demand) associated with high-level heterologous protein expression.
• Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA): Formulate computational strategies—including gene knockouts, overexpression, and promoter swap libraries—to optimize carbon yield, minimize toxic byproduct accumulation, and enhance target protein titers.
  Omics Pipeline Development & Data Integration:
• Multi-Omics Data Pipelines: Build, automate, and maintain robust computational processing pipelines (Python, R, MATLAB) for high-throughput RNA-seq, intracellular metabolomics, and proteomics datasets.
• Genotype-to-Phenotype Mapping: Integrate transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles from fed-batch bioreactor runs to identify cellular stress responses, chaperone bottlenecks, and upregulated protease networks under high-density fermentation conditions.
• Target Discovery for Protein Yield & Stability: Develop innovative bioinformatic workflows to predict protease cleavage sites, design degradation-resistant protein variants, and identify novel folding factors/chaperones for strain co-expression. Bioprocess Cross-Functional Integration & IP Strategy:
• Upstream/Bioprocess Collaboration: Translate time-series bioreactor data (gas transfer, feed rates, substrate consumption) into kinetic and constraint-based parameters to refine model predictions continuously.
• Internal Digital Twin Support: Act as the technical internal subject matter expert interfacing with external digital twin partners, ensuring computational bioprocess architecture aligns with biological strain constraints.
• IP Generation & Innovation: Conceptualize and computationally validate novel biological designs to support internal IP generation and proprietary host development.
  Key Competencies:
• Proven track record of building, validating, and publishing/deploying genome-scale metabolic models (COBRA toolbox, Cameo, CobraPy, or similar).
• Deep expertise in RNA-seq, transcriptomics, and metabolomics data analysis (differential expression, pathway enrichment, network analysis).
• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or MATLAB, with familiarity in version control (Git) and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
• Practical understanding of microbial physiology, metabolic pathways, and protein folding/secretion mechanisms in yeast or fungal cell factories.
• Strong strategic thinking, excellent technical documentation, and cross-functional communication skills to bridge computational outputs with wet-lab execution.
  
  Position: Research Investigator (Bioprocess)
  Who are we?
  We are a start-up dedicated to producing sustainable food-grade proteins using recombinant DNA technology and precision fermentation.
  Location: IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
  Compensation: as per industry standards
  Apply at: Send an email to cso@iuvalife.com
  Qualifications:
• PhD in Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Life Sciences with 0-2 years of experience specific to developing upstream and downstream processes for precision fermentation
  Key Responsibilities:
• Bioprocess Development
  o Design and execute upstream fermentation processes for recombinant protein production using yeast and fungal systems.
  o Conduct shake-flask expression studies; harvest cultures and analyze protein expression levels.
  o Set up and operate lab-scale fermenters for process optimization and parameter studies.
  o Translate optimized processes to pilot-scale/large-scale fermenters in collaboration with consultants and manufacturing partners.
  o Perform downstream operations such as centrifugation, filtration, and buffer exchange.
• Lab Management:
  o Support the maintenance of lab equipment and cultures, ensuring smooth operation of fermenters and other bioprocessing equipment.
  o Perform routine lab tasks, including preparing media, sterilizing glassware, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.
  o Handle bioanalytical techniques such as SDS-PAGE, western blotting, and other relevant assays.
• Data Analysis and Reporting:
  o Record and analyze experimental data accurately, ensuring consistency and reliability.
  o Prepare detailed documentation of experiments, including lab notebooks and data sheets.
  o Assist in preparing reports and presentations of experimental findings for team discussions.
  o Engage with consultants and auditors to troubleshoot, optimize, and standardize experimental processes and techniques
• Team Leadership and Execution:
  o Supervise and mentor junior researchers, ensuring successful execution and monitoring of R&D projects.
  o Guide team members in experimental planning, culture maintenance, and analytical processes (e.g., SDS-PAGE, western blotting, bioanalytical techniques).
• Strategic Contributions:
  o Collaborate with the leadership team to provide insights into process strategies and contribute to strategic decision-making for project goals.
  o Train team members on SOPs, analytical methods, and documentation processes.
  Key Competencies:
• Proven experience in handling recombinant protein expression, strain engineering, and lab management
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
• Ability to manage projects independently and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and data recording skills.
  
  Position: Research Investigator (Analytics)
  Who are we?
  We are a start-up dedicated to producing sustainable food-grade proteins using recombinant
  DNA technology and precision fermentation.
  Location: IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
  Compensation: as per industry standards
  Apply at: Send an email to cso@iuvalife.com
  Qualifications:
• PhD in Bioanalytical Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Life Sciences with 0–2 years of relevant post-PhD experience in analytical development for biologicals or precision fermentation products.
  Key Responsibilities:
  Analytical Method Development & Bioprocess Collaboration:
  o Method Development & Characterization: Design, optimize, and execute robust analytical methods—including chromatographic techniques (RP-HPLC, SEC, IEX) and mass spectrometry workflows (LC-MS, GC-MS)—for the comprehensive characterization of both recombinant proteins and small molecules.
  o Cross-Functional Bioprocess Support: Work in close collaboration with upstream (fermentation) and downstream processing teams to develop fit-for-purpose assays, analyze in-process samples, troubleshoot matrix effects, and track target molecules throughout the bioprocess workflow.
  o Orthogonal Bioanalytics: Oversee complementary analytical assays (e.g., SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, spectrophotometric assays) to evaluate protein purity, titer, stability, and small-molecule metabolite profiles.
  Lab Management:
  o Support the maintenance of lab equipment and cultures, ensuring smooth operation of fermenters and other bioprocessing equipment.
  o Perform routine lab tasks, including preparing media, sterilizing glassware, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.
  o Handle bioanalytical techniques such as SDS-PAGE, western blotting, and other relevant assays.
  Data Analysis and Reporting:
  o Record and analyze experimental data accurately, ensuring consistency and reliability.
  o Prepare detailed documentation of experiments, including lab notebooks and data sheets.
  o Assist in preparing reports and presentations of experimental findings for team discussions.
  o Engage with consultants and auditors to troubleshoot, optimize, and standardize experimental processes and techniques Team Leadership and Execution:
  o Supervise and mentor junior researchers, ensuring successful execution and monitoring of R&D projects.
  o Guide team members in experimental planning, culture maintenance, and analytical processes (e.g., SDS-PAGE, western blotting, bioanalytical techniques).
  Strategic Contributions:
  o Collaborate with the leadership team to provide insights into process strategies and contribute to strategic decision-making for project goals.
  o Train team members on SOPs, analytical methods, and documentation processes.
  Key Competencies:
• Proven hands-on expertise in HPLC (RP, SEC, IEX), GC-MS, and basic Mass Spectrometry for biological matrices.
• Good grasp of upstream fermentation and downstream recovery workflows to effectively troubleshoot matrix interference.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for analytical hardware, columns, and data acquisition software.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and manage analytical pipelines for multiple concurrent projects.
• Excellent technical writing, data presentation, and communication skills.