Associate Scientist, Strain Engineering
About Willow Biosciences:
Willow Biosciences is a synthetic biology company focused on the development of biobased processes to produce ingredients, including those for consumer care, food & beverage, and pharmaceuticals. Our scientists engineer organisms to produce plant-, animal-, and petrochemical-derived ingredients through precision fermentation. Our fully integrated processes are more sustainable, secure, and cost-effective than traditional extraction or chemical synthesis routes and typically provide final products in higher purity.
Mission, Values, and Beliefs
It is rewarding to work at a company where people genuinely believe in what they are doing. At Willow Biosciences, we are committed to bringing high-purity compounds to market through scalable and cost-effective bio-based processes. We work hard, we are serious about what we do, and we like to have fun while we are at it!
Position: Associate Scientist, Strain Engineering
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Associate Scientist to join our Strain Engineering team and contribute to the metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways in microorganisms, particularly yeast. The successful candidate will have strong molecular biology skills, and practical experience using synthetic DNA and gene-editing tools to create and clone diverse DNA libraries. Knowledge of genome editing, protein engineering, yeast physiology, and/or recombinant protein production in yeast is a plus. A strong desire to work in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment is preferred.
Location: Mountain View, CA US
**Education & Experience: **
B.S. or M.S. in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. 1-3+ years’ demonstrated experience in a high-throughput environment working with DNA library construction/cloning techniques (PCR, cloning, microbial transformation, homologous recombination, sequencing, and CRISPR-based integration), in an industrial research setting (Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, or Life Sciences Industries).
Responsibilities Include:
Job Requirements :
Excellent interpersonal communication skills (oral and written)
Ability to communicate/present work and analysis to audiences with diverse technical backgrounds
Attention to detail, safety, good laboratory practice, and maintenance of a high degree of accuracy while working in high throughput
Ability to track documentation, have good record keeping, and write reports and SOPs
Ability to take ownership, prioritize responsibilities, multi-task, and remain flexible with changing needs
Must be motivated and able to work under tight deadlines
Work in partnership with other scientists (molecular biologists, computational biologists, and analytical scientists) to meet company goals/milestones
Capable of high performance in independent work as well as in a team setting
A strong desire to grow as a scientific researcher, learn new techniques, and adopt new technologies for process improvements
Experience working with ELN and LIMS (preferred)
Proficiency with MS Office suite
Physical Demands:
Remaining in a seated or standing position for extended periods
Position Type: Full-time position
Travel: Not required
Work Authorization : Authorized to work in the US.
Benefits:
Equal Opportunity Employment
Willow Biosciences is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.