Automated Strain Engineering Research Associate I

Who we are

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.

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.

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

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 11 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

Pay Range: $62,000 - $75,000 annually commensurate with qualifications and experience

What you bring to the table

Recombia Biosciences is seeking a talented Synthetic Biology & Automation Research Associate I to join our dynamic team. This is an excellent opportunity for a junior professional who is passionate about engineering microbes using cutting-edge automation.

As a Synthetic Biology & Automation Research Associate I, you will be a key member of our Automated Strain Engineering team. In this role, you will leverage automated equipment to build plasmids and engineer microbial strains in a high-throughput manner. You will collaborate with scientists, engineers, and other research associates to execute experimental workflows, analyze data, and communicate progress to internal stakeholders. This position offers the chance to make a direct impact on the development of novel biobased products and processes.

What you’ll do as an Automated Strain Engineering Research Associate

• Execute automated molecular cloning and strain engineering workflows as part of the Recombia Automated Strain Engineering team
• Build plasmids via molecular cloning techniques including DNA design, assembly, purification, and sequencing verification
• Design and introduce genetic modifications to industrial yeast strains and/or bacterial strains using classical and high-throughput methodologies
• Operate automation equipment (liquid handlers) to execute protocols
• Analyze the results from your experiments using Excel and custom scripts (python, R)
• Work closely with scientists, engineers, and other research associates to execute and troubleshoot your processes
• Complete tasks efficiently, independently, and within stated deadlines
• Communicate the status of your progress to team members, collaborators, and upper management
• Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications:

• B.S. in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, or related field
• 1 years of industry experience (especially in microbial synthetic biology or metabolic engineering)
• Experience with plasmid cloning workflows, such as GoldenGate/Type IIS, Gibson, and restriction enzymes
• Familiarity with designing primers and plasmids for assembly, amplifying DNA with PCR, preparing plasmid and genomic DNA for sequencing, and interpreting sequencing results
• Experience with genetic or genome engineering of microorganisms, such as E. coli and S. cerevisiae
• Experience operating automated laboratory equipment, such as liquid handlers or integrated systems
• Basic programming and data analysis (Python, R)
• Ability to use both technical and interpersonal skills to solve problems

Preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with Benchling as an electronic lab notebook and information management system
• Passion for microbial synthetic biology and a desire to learn more about the science of strain engineering

**This position is not open for immigration sponsorship. Valid US work authorization is required at the time of hire.**

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.