Microbial Metabolic Engineering Research Associate

*Recombia will consider candidates across all Research Associate experience levels to join our team. Responsibilities listed below align with a Research Associate II level, however requirements, responsibilities and duties will vary across other different levels (RA I level, RA II level, RA III level, and Senior RA level.)

Who we are 

This role is within Recombia Biosciences a metabolic engineering company part of the Lesaffre Group since 2022. Recombia Biosciences specializes in the development and commercialization of innovative microbial solutions for various industries, including agriculture, food, and biofuels. Leveraging Lesaffre's extensive expertise in fermentation and microbiology, Recombia focuses on applying advanced biotechnology, such as metabolic and genome engineering and synthetic biology, to create customized microbial strains with enhanced functionalities using precision fermentation.

Lesaffre is a key global player in the fermentation of microorganisms (yeasts and bacteria) for baking, taste, healthcare and industrial biotechnology. This story began more than 170 years ago in northern France, and, thanks to our pioneer spirit and our innovative approach, we are constantly developing. 

Lesaffre's global presence includes 11,000 employees from 96 nationalities and a 3-billion euro turnover. We work with customers, partners and researchers to develop essential nutrients and bio actives that strengthen human health, optimize animal well-being and improve plant nutrition. 

Our Core Values: Passion, respect, trust, entrepreneurship, and humility  

Pay Range: $50,000 to $120,000 annually; salary range commensurate with qualifications and experience

What we offer  

• The opportunity to represent a passionate organization focused on innovation and sustainability 
• A competitive 401K plan, affordable benefits starting on day 1 of employment, and 12 paid holidays  
• The ability to utilize your experience and knowledge to make a real impact  
• Opportunities for continuous growth within your role and across business units  

What you bring to the table 

As our Research Associate, you'll bring a powerful blend of scientific expertise to drive innovation at Recombia Biosciences. With a strong background in molecular biology, microbial strain engineering (especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae), high-throughput screening, and lab automation, you'll design and implement cutting-edge genetic modifications to optimize industrial yeast strains. Your specialized experience in statistics and data analysis will be instrumental in coordinating robust characterization assays that accelerate our design-build-test cycles. If you thrive on solving complex problems at the intersection of biotechnology and industrial fermentation, we want you to join our pioneering team and make your mark.

What you’ll do as a Research Associate

•  Design and introduce genetic modifications to industrial yeast strains using high-throughput methodologies
•  Implement or coordinate robust assays to characterize the resulting genetically engineered strains
•  Interact frequently with leadership and collaborate with other research associates and scientists
•  Execute automated strain engineering and assay workflows as part of the Recombia team
•  Leverage your strong background in molecular biology, microbial strain engineering, and high-throughput screening
•  Apply your specialized expertise in statistics and data analysis to support research initiatives
•  Work closely with cross-functional teams to drive the development of innovative microbial solutions
•  Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications:  

•  Bachelor's degree in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioengineering, Chemical engineering, or related field
•  Industry experience (especially in the areas of genome or metabolic engineering and industrial fermentation)
•  Experience in engineering yeast for the production of small molecules
•  Experience with genetic or genome engineering of microorganisms, such as E. coli, S. cerevisiae and/or fungal species
•  Direct experience in molecular biology (e.g. PCR, DNA purification, cloning, genome editing, DNA assembly, DNA sequencing) of yeast and bacteria
•  Demonstrated skills to generate new hypotheses using existing data or scientific literature

Preferred qualifications: 

•  Programming and data analysis skills (Python, R, etc)
•  Skills to mentor junior researchers
•  Familiarity with Benchling environment and their Developer APIs
•  Ability to travel internationally (France) at least two weeks per year

Lesaffre provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.   

Salary : $50,000 - $120,000