Research Associate (Biology)

TL;DR

Research Associate (Biology): Driving metabolic pathway development and strain optimization for bio-based materials with an accent on enzyme development, strain characterization, and high-throughput screening. Focus on implementing molecular biology workflows and optimizing microbial cell culture processes to achieve targeted TRY metrics.

Location: San Leandro, CA, USA. Legal authorization to work in the United States is required.

Salary: $80,000–$114,000

Company

hirify.global is a Certified B Corporation pioneering bio-based materials to accelerate the global transition to a zero-carbon economy.

What you will do

• Design and optimize protocols for strain characterization to achieve targeted small molecule product metrics.
• Implement molecular and synthetic biology workflows for the construction of plasmids, strains, and enzymes.
• Develop high-throughput microbial cell culture workflows for routine assessment of new strains.
• Execute in vitro and in vivo enzymatic assays.
• Manage the Strain Development Group's operations, including preparing sterile materials, reagents, and maintaining inventory.
• Collaborate closely with Molecular Biology, Fermentation, and Analytics teams.

Requirements

• MS or BS in Biochemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a related discipline.
• 1-5 years of relevant lab, industrial, or startup experience.
• Expertise in bacterial physiology and microbial cell cultures for biosynthetic pathway development.
• Hands-on experience with PCR, Gibson Assembly, restriction digestion, ligation, and homologous recombination.
• Experience with protein expression, purification, and enzymatic assays.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States is required.

Nice to have

• Experience with industrially relevant microorganisms other than bacteria.

Culture & Benefits

• Company stock options and 401(k) retirement plan with up to 4% match.
• 100% employee coverage on base medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Flexible time off policy with 18 days PTO and 11 paid company holidays per year.
• Relocation assistance may be provided.
• Monthly team all-hands and social events.