Research Associate

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.