Job Description
Job Description
We are seeking a Senior Research Associate – Fermentation to join a growing biotechnology team in Chicago, IL. (60609) This position is a 6 month contract to hire position. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on research professional who is passionate about microbial fermentation, bioprocess development, and advancing innovative biotechnology solutions.
The ideal candidate will have experience independently planning and executing fermentation experiments, analyzing process data, and supporting process development and optimization. This position will work closely with cross-functional teams to improve fermentation performance, troubleshoot technical challenges, and support scale-up initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Independently plan, execute, and oversee fermentation experiments across shake flask, laboratory, and pilot-scale bioreactors.
- Monitor fermentation processes, document experimental conditions, and identify process deviations.
- Collect samples using aseptic techniques and perform routine biological assays while maintaining high data integrity.
- Analyze experimental data, prepare technical reports, and present findings to cross-functional teams.
- Prepare fermentation equipment, media, and materials for experiments.
- Troubleshoot fermentation processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and product quality.
- Support downstream process development activities, including material transfer, process data collection, and performance evaluation.
- Participate in integrated upstream and downstream process development, process characterization, and optimization.
- Assist with equipment maintenance, laboratory organization, and inventory management.
- Organize and prioritize daily and weekly experimental activities to meet project timelines.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related life sciences discipline.
- 2–4+ years of relevant industry experience in fermentation development, microbial cell culture, or bioprocess engineering. Candidates with a master's degree and at least 1 year of relevant professional experience may also be considered.
- Hands-on experience conducting microbial fermentation experiments in a laboratory or research environment.
- Understanding of fermentation processes, including batch, fed-batch, and continuous fermentation.
- Experience working with microbial systems such as fungi, yeast, or bacteria.
- Familiarity with laboratory equipment, aseptic techniques, experimental documentation, and data collection.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing reports and presenting experimental findings.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional research and development teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with fungal fermentation, particularly submerged fermentation.
- Knowledge of Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis software such as JMP.
- Familiarity with data historians and fermentation process monitoring tools.
- Exposure to downstream processing techniques, including centrifugation, filtration, mechanical separation, or spray drying.
- Experience supporting fermentation scale-up and technology transfer.
- Understanding of integrated upstream and downstream bioprocess development.
- Background in food biotechnology, alternative proteins, or functional food ingredients.
- Experience with fermentation process characterization and optimization.