Position

Senior Scientist - Strain Engineering

Mission

Solugen’s mission is to decarbonize chemicals manufacturing. As a first step, Solugen built its first 10,000 tons per year commercial plant with potential to offset 37,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide equivalents. This role will directly support Solugen’s mission by continuously improving our ability to scale enzyme production to support our core platform. The individual will report to the Director of Strain Engineering and will work within the Strain Engineering team performing with experiments and analysis to support the Solugen’s future R&D, production, and revenue goals. This role will be involved with genetically engineering and screening Solugen’s Trichoderma reesei host to maximize its performance. The Senior Scientist will have a deep understanding of T. reesei genetics and physiology and can perform genetic engineering in this organism to maximize catalyst production. As the production conditions and strains continuously improve, the quality of Solugen’s products and our cost to manufacture improve. This is a hands-on role with some management responsibilities where the individual’s initiative, laboratory prowess, and energy will make a substantial impact on the company.

Key Outcomes

• Independently perform Trichoderma reesei genetic transformations.
• Develop and execute strategies to increase heterologous protein production titers through genetic engineering.
• Independently perform experiments to record and analyze key performance indicators of production strains.
• Visualize data analysis and deliver results on a timely manner.

Key Competencies

Job Specific

• Master’s degree or PhD in Biotechnology, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related field with a focus on genetic engineering of filamentous fungi.
• 2-3 years of academic or industrial experience in genetic engineering Trichoderma reesei and heterologous protein expression with a proven track record of achievements.
• Able to translate deep knowledge of heterologous protein production hosts genetics into titer improvements in the lab through hands-on skills.
• Molecular techniques in protein and DNA/RNA isolation, purification, and analysis.
• Experience with scaling-up and -down of bioprocesses are a plus.
• Familiarity with high-throughput screening using liquid handling automation preferred.
• Versed in relevant analytical software (Benchling, Geneious Prime, JMP) and able to streamline data analysis and visualization from benchtop equipment through Python and R.
• Must be able to prioritize and self-organize with a mindset to succeed.
• Good communicator with excellent verbal and writing skills.

Company Specific

• Curiosity and willingness to learn and ask a lot of questions.
• Being nimble, embracing the speed of startup culture.
• Passionate for green chemistry and fighting climate change.
• Emphasis on safety.
• Respect for others and a team player.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Biotechnology, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related field with a focus on genetic engineering of filamentous fungi.
• 2-3 years of academic or industrial experience in genetic engineering of Trichoderma reesei and heterologous protein expression with a proven track record of achievements.

Solugen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

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