Microbiology Scientist/Lab Manager 

To apply for this position, please email us at contact@arsenale.bio

‍

Job location: Future Farming Initiative (Roncade, Veneto, Italy); On-site 

Arsenale BioYards is the data and industrial backbone enabling companies to design and biomanufacture at scale, thus unlocking the transition to the bioeconomy. Arsenale BioYards aims at bringing down the cost of precision fermentation by an order of magnitude, and it does so by developing an end-to-end hardware and software platform (i) from lab scale to enable the design of organisms and experiments closer to industrial conditions, with a software predicting large scale performance from their small-scale bioreactors and (ii) going up to scaling out biomanufacturing capacity with its standardized but modular BioYards. It is an inherently long-term data- and economies-of-learning play, especially through the manufacturing data feedback loop linking back to the design. 

We are seeking an experienced Microbiologist with a strong scientific background, laboratory organization and management skills, and hands on knowledge of bench scale microbial fermentation systems. This role would be well suited for an experienced academic or industrial postdoctoral researcher who is interested in transferring to a precision fermentation industry. The role has two key objectives: (1) to set up and manage Arsenale Microbiology laboratories in our R&D and pilot facilities, and (2) to enable development and functional testing of Arsenale proprietary microbioreactor systems in close collaboration with Engineering, Fermentation, Analytical Chemistry, Downstream Processing, and Machine Learning teams, and the third-party collaborators. Microbiology Scientist/Lab Manager will report to Arsenale Chief Scientific Officer. 

Position Summary (What You Will Do) 

● Establish and run Arsenale R&D and Pilot Plant Microbiology laboratories. 

● Assist with installation and commissioning of microbiology lab equipment and ensure its proper operation (calibration, preventive maintenance, service, repair). 

● Plan and execute shake flask and small-scale (microbioreactor) experiments utilizing DOE (Design of Experiments) principles to enable bioprocess development efforts across Arsenale fermentation platforms. 

● Prepare, sterilize, run and turnaround Arsenale microbioreactors. 

● Support operations of seed and inoculum preparation, batching, monitoring, aseptic sample collection, analysis, and documentation. 

● Develop and execute bench scale fermentation processes and control strategies. ● Conduct detailed analysis, compiling and reporting of microbiology and fermentation data, and interpretation of experimental results. 

● Support transferring fermentation processes to Arsenale pilot and demonstration plants.

● Act as interface between associated project groups, including microbioreactor hardware engineers, pilot plant fermentation, analytical chemistry, downstream processing, machine learning and data scientists, and the third-party collaborators. 

● Build Arsenale Microbiology team and supervise junior scientists and technicians. 

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (What You Bring) 

● Experience with establishing and running Microbiology or Biotechnology laboratories in academic or industrial settings. 

● Candidate must have a strong microbiology background and hands-on knowledge of yeast fermentation systems. Experience with broader microbial fermentation systems and process development is a strong plus. 

● Excellent communication, organization, and collaborative skills with demonstrated ability to innovate and troubleshoot complex systems while working independently in a fast paced, cross-functional team environment. 

● Working knowledge of DOE (Design of Experiments) frameworks and bio-statistical data analysis. 

● Familiarity with bench scale fermentation control and integration software, and with LIMS and ELN systems is a strong plus. 

● Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail. 

● Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

● Fluent proficiency in Italian and English languages. 

Desired Experience and Capabilities: 

● PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or a related Life Sciences discipline 

with 5+ years of relevant academic or industrial experience. BSc or MSc is also accepted with 7-10 years of relevant experience. 

● Hands-on experience with yeast cultivation and bench scale fermentation systems is 

required, experience with bacteria and filamentous fungi is plus. 

● Demonstrated success with bench scale fermentation process development for production of proteins or small molecules is a strong plus. 

To apply for this position, please email us at contact@arsenale.bio

‍