Mycology Research Associate

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 seeking a skilled and innovative Mycology Associate Scientist to join our Process Development team at MWSC. This role focuses on leveraging broad microbiological and bioprocess engineering expertise to enhance the growth and scalability of fungal biomaterials, specifically targeting Reishi-based products. The ideal candidate will bring a robust foundation in microbiology, industrial fermentation, and process development, with an understanding of fungal growth, solid state fermentation, and bioprocess optimization. The position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development and scaling of novel fungal-based materials and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. 

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research to optimize fungal growth and metabolic efficiency, focusing on scalability for industrial production.
• Independently design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments with minimal supervision, ensuring accurate and reproducible results, while performing tasks aligned with production needs, such as substrate preparation, macro tray or agar plate creation, and monitoring fungal growth metrics.
• Apply aseptic techniques, DNA extraction and analysis, microbial culture maintenance, and fermentation processes to grow and scale fungal strains.
• Design, execute, and analyze experiments to assess fungal physiology, biomass production, and other key performance metrics, while considering the downstream impact on manufacturing processes.
• Utilize Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, and other tools to track experimental data, analyze results, and maintain detailed records to support research and process development.
• Support process design and optimization, contributing to the transition of lab-scale experiments to production-scale processes.
• Assist in scaling up laboratory processes and transferring them to full-scale production, ensuring all protocols are aligned with manufacturing requirements.
• Work closely with team members across microbiology, biotechnology, and bioprocess engineering to identify improvements and implement solutions.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality to conduct in-process checks, address quality incidents, and provide training on the floor, especially for new strains or organisms that differ from current processes.
• Ensure compliance with all safety protocols and maintain a safe, organized, and productive work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Bioprocess Engineering, or a related field.
• 2-3 years of experience in microbiological research or industrial settings, with a focus on fungal fermentation or bioprocessing. Experience in industrial mycology or biotechnology preferred.
• Expertise in microbiological techniques such as aseptic technique, media preparation, cell culture maintenance, and fungal propagation.
• Experience with bioprocess development, including fermentation or scale-up processes, is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of molecular biology techniques (e.g., PCR, DNA sequencing) is a plus.
• Ability to critically evaluate experimental results, draw conclusions, and propose process improvements.
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of collaborating across diverse scientific and engineering teams.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous documentation practices.
• Experience with R, or other programming tools for data analysis, is a bonus.

At MycoWorks, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research and play a key role in the commercialization of sustainable fungal-based biomaterials. If you are passionate about microbiology, bioprocess engineering, and scaling innovative technologies, we encourage you to apply.

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.

This employment is contingent upon receiving applicable background check results, including drug screening, that meet standards based upon the job duties and business necessity, as well as passing a degree or license verification required for the position.

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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.