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: Scientist, Chemistry:

We are seeking a Scientist, Chemistry to develop methods for the detection and isolation of biosynthetically produced natural products. This individual will have a strong chemistry or biochemistry background and in-depth knowledge of organic chemistry principles such as thermodynamics and kinetics, as well as familiarity with biosynthetic processes, analytical techniques, and downstream process development.

Location: Mountain View, CA US

Education: MSc in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field with 3-5 years of related work experience, or Ph.D. in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field with 0-2 years of related work experience.

Job Description:

• Design and carry out experiments in medium-throughput
• Extraction and isolation of natural products from complex matrices
• Development of scalable downstream processing routes
• Structural characterization of biosynthetically derived molecules and evaluation of their purity
• Design, establish and validate scalable and safe chemical processes leading to pharmaceutical intermediates, APIs, and other value-added chemical products
• Synthesis of organic substrates, intermediates, and products as required
• Development and use of analytical techniques as required
• Proper record-keeping and data analysis
• Preparation of documentation for tech transfer of chemical processes
• Work closely with manufacturing organizations for the scale-up of internal processes
• Effectively communicate/present work and analysis to audiences with diverse technical backgrounds.
• Offer strategic recommendations based on the interpretation of data for strain engineering/fermentation process decisions
• Evaluate innovative technologies that will further advance/enable project goals
• Mentor research associates/associate scientists

Required Skills:

• The candidate should have extensive knowledge of organic chemistry principles (chirality, catalysis, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism, synthesis) in addition to strong organic chemistry skills (chemical handling, purification, and analysis)
• Knowledge and use of analytical instrumentation (HPLC, GC, MS)
• Knowledge and ability to solve the structures of unknown compounds
• Understanding of process chemistry (reaction up-scaling, safety, and downstream processing)
• Relevant full-time biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience within R&D or manufacturing is a plus
• Knowledge of biosynthetic pathways and enzymology is a plus
• Other requirements: the ability to work in a highly parallel manner, ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team; critical thinking and attention to detail; ability to plan, prioritize responsibilities, and multi-task; excellent housekeeping and safety practices; outstanding team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal), excellent documentation, and organization skills; a strong desire to grow as a scientific researcher, learn new techniques and adopt new technologies for process improvements, experience working with LIMS

Physical Demands:

• Performing repetitive tasks with hands, fingers, and wrists
• Use of standard lab PPE (lab coats, safety glasses, and gloves)
• 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:

• Competitive salary package, 401k, healthcare benefits, medical, vision & dental
• Paid vacation and company holidays
• Life / AD&D, Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Opportunities for professional development
• Snacks, weekly lunch, company, and team-wide social events

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.