Scientist - Quantitative Physiologist

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Perform an "in depth" physiological characterization of target strains by using highly instrumented lab-scale bioreactors, including batch, fed-batch, and continuous modes.
• Work with analytical chemistry team to measure metabolic products using HPLC, GC-MS, or other analytical approaches.
• Model yeast fermentation kinetics, nutrient uptake, and growth rates using data from bioreactors.
• Optimize feeding strategies based on metabolic demand, carbon flux, and oxygen transfer limitations.
• Collaborate with metabolic engineering team to identify targets for strain development.
• Inform high-throughput screening development in collaboration with metabolic engineering team.
• Design and implement experimental strategies.
• Participate actively in project meetings and communicate research results verbally and in writing.
• Maintain accurate and complete laboratory records, including notebooks, test results, and data, in accordance with company guidelines on documentation, storage, and control.
• Stay current with technological advancements and apply new methods to enhance process efficiency.
• Must be able to function within a team environment.
• Support daily R&D processes involving the handling, preparation, and management of various chemical substances using the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Safely handle, measure, mix, and transport chemical substances in accordance with established procedures using appropriate PPE.
• Operate and maintain equipment used in chemical processing and testing.
• Participate in additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Extensive hands-on experience with aerobic lab-scale bioreactors (fed-batch and/or continuous).
• Strong understanding of yeast physiology and central carbon/respiratory metabolism.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing fermentation data to extract growth kinetics, substrate uptake rates, and metabolic behavior.
• Proficiency in data analysis and quantitative modeling.
• Experience with metabolic flux analysis, flux balance analysis, or related approaches.
• Familiarity with analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS) for metabolite quantification/profiling.
• Experience interpreting omics datasets (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to understand cellular physiology.
• Ability to interpret off-gas analysis (OUR, CER, RQ) and connect gas exchange data to metabolic and respiratory state.
• Demonstrated success in troubleshooting fermentation experiments, with a focus on identifying biological and metabolic root causes.
• Ability to design hypothesis-driven experiments and translate results into insights for strain improvement.
• Strong communication skills and ability to independently plan and execute research activities.