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Scientist, Solid State Fermentation

Emeryville, California, United States

We’re on a journey to Grow the Future of Materials. How? By unlocking the unique properties of mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. Our patented technology, Fine Mycelium™, unleashes a new class of materials crafted from nature, engineered for performance, and built for a resilient future.We’re seeking passionate learners to join us in pioneering a materials revolution and creating an epic place to work.

MycoWorks offers competitive equity and benefits programs to support the health, well-being, and financial empowerment of all our employees.We root our relationships with our partners and one another in our core values: Be Mycelial, Cultivate Quality, and Grow the Future, and we're committed to building a diverse team and an inclusive environment where all employees belong. Women, gender expansive individuals, people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Summary:

MycoWorks is hiring a scientist responsible for designing and executing solid state fermentation experiments. The ideal candidate will have a deep aptitude towards translating fundamental microbial physiology and biochemistry and/or fermentation technology towards characterizing our Fine Mycelium process. The mission of this role will be to further  understand the biochemical and morphological changes accompanying mycelial growth in our Fine Mycelium process. 

The candidate will work at our Emeryville Innovation Center and will interact collaboratively across the organization.

Responsibilities:

  • Thoroughly characterize our solid state fermentation process (biochemical characterization of fermentation inputs and outputs, primary and secondary metabolism, morphology of the organism)
  • Correlate process inputs with mycelium growth and quality of Reishi
  • Design, execute and analyze experiments in small and large scale platforms to develop upstream processes for improvement of specific product quality attributes 
  • Develop biochemical and other methods to characterize fungal growth and metabolism
  • Communicate results of experimental and process design work cross-functionally
  • Assist in transferring technology from pilot plant to factory

Qualifications:

  • Ph. D. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering or a related field; 2-4 years research experience in mycology, biotechnology, bioprocess development, fermentation, or a comparable combination in an industrial or academic setting
  • Experience with fungal systems is required
  • Experience characterizing microbial systems with a clear understanding of physiology, metabolism and knowledge of analytical chemistry methods for analyzing biomolecules is highly desirable.
  • Experience with solid state fermentation is ideal, Experience in profiling and characterizing lignocellulosic biomass and fermentation of lignocellulosic material is preferred 
  • Ability to work successfully independently as well as within a technical team, and cross-functionally 
  • Ability to prioritize tasks, coordinate work with others, and meet milestones in a fast-paced setting
  • Strong written and verbal communications skills, effectively tailored to audiences of different knowledge levels
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to learn new methodologies for changing research priorities

MycoWorks offers world class benefits and compensation programs to support the health, well-being and financial empowerment of our employees. Our benefits include:

  • Medical, Vision and Dental plans at no cost to employees
  • Equity
  • Optional insurance coverage for partners and dependents
  • FSA Accounts
  • Free Personal Health Advocate
  • Generous PTO policy
  • Paid parental leave
  • Paid holidays beyond the traditional
  • 401(k) program

MycoWorks may contact you via text message regarding your application for this or similar opportunities. You can always text STOP to opt out.

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The targeted base pay for this role is $125,000-$138,000 . The actual pay is dependent on other factors such as training, skills, work experience and business needs. The target pay range is subject to change and may be modified. This role is also eligible for benefits and equity.

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In our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, we recognize the importance of accommodating individual needs. If you require any specific accommodations during the application or interview process, please feel free to let us know. We are dedicated to facilitating a comfortable and accessible experience for all candidates, and will work with you to ensure your needs are met.

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