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Sr. Research Associate, Culture Collection & Cultivation Optimization

San Francisco, East Bay

About Oath: 

Oath is a leading microbial sciences company that utilizes microbes and plants to offer innovative solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing our planet - the climate crisis and the shift to sustainable agriculture. We imagine a world where these crises are not just alleviated, but reversed, replenishing Earth's microbiomes. By leveraging the latest science-based insights, Oath provides natural soil inoculant solutions that foster a healthier and more sustainable world for future generations.

When you join Oath, you become part of a collaborative network that prioritizes conducting high-quality scientific research to develop and launch effective global solutions. You will have access to a team of highly trained scientists, study directors, and a wide network of collaborators, enabling you to integrate and enhance your existing skill set.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Senior Research Associate or Associate Scientist to join our dynamic, fast-paced, and supportive R&D team. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in lab work to create high-quality microbial cell banks and working stocks, perform QC on the frozen vials and other microbial biomass, improve laboratory efficiencies, and optimize small-scale cultivation methods, with a focus on innovative methodologies to support testing and launching novel microbial consortia products. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Execute routine operations for creating, tracking, validating, and documenting high-quality frozen stocks of diverse bacteria and fungi from environmental sources (i.e., non-model organisms); includes archival stocks and working cell banks for manufacturing and lab assays
  • Implement and refine methods for assessing clonal purity, viability, and vitality of all stocks, banks, and source material
  • Perform PCR and contribute to other DNA- and RNA-based lab methods to assess clonal purity, genomic integrity, taxonomic identification, and microbial functions
  • Execute molecular biology techniques
  • Collaborate with automation and data engineering to improve sample tracking, scale up operations, and manage inventory
  • Collaborate with colleagues in bioinformatics, data science, laboratory and greenhouse testing, production/manufacturing, and field science
  • Write SOPs and tech transfer methods to collaborators within company and at CDMOs, CROs, and academic institutions
  • Independently troubleshoot when problems arise, in consultation with management
  • Contribute to development and execution of in vitro and in planta assays as part of the R&D pipeline
  • Manage inventories and shipments
  • Carefully document operations and findings
  • Clearly communicate plans, progress, roadblocks, and findings to colleagues

Qualifications:

Required Background:

  • Bachelors degree (or equivalent experience) in Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Plant Biology, or related field
  • Experience with creation, quality control testing, and inventory management of microbial stocks for diverse environmental isolates
  • 4+ years working to support product development in industrial or agricultural biotechnology and developing microbe-based products in a corporate R&D environment

Required Skills & Expertise:

  • Ability to cultivate wide array of microbes and create high quality microbial stocks, with thorough QC, documentation, and inventory control
  • Extensive experience in laboratory operations, with operational excellence, high productivity, and continuous improvement
  • Expertise in executing and analyzing PCR reactions, agarose gels, and Sanger sequencing results to assess identity and purity of microbial cultures
  • Exemplary time management and organizational skills
  • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate productively with automation engineers and data engineers to improve sample tracking, throughput, documentation, and facile data analysis and dashboarding
  • Extensive experience with LIMS systems (e.g., Benchling) and task management software (e.g., Asana, Jira)
  • Familiarity with accessing and analyzing data, operations, and inventory via SQL queries and relational databases
  • Growth mindset
  • Highly responsive with a strong sense of initiative and follow through
  • Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
  • Flexible and adaptable to changing project needs and priorities

Beneficial Skills & Expertise:

  • Experience managing external vendor relationships and lab consumables inventory
  • Familiarity with spore or cyst formation methods and assays
  • Experience with various microbial viability measurement methods
  • Experience executing tests for agricultural field trials
  • Experience in setting up a new lab space

Location: 

This position requires spending >80% of the workweek at a laboratory location in the San Francisco East Bay region. The first few weeks of employment might require regular work at a Vacaville, CA location. May require occasional work travel outside California.

Job Type: Full-time, exempt position in the United States.  At this time, Oath, Inc. is not able to provide visa sponsorship or work authorization support.

Compensation: 

$76,000-$95,000

Benefits:

  • Health, vision, and dental insurance
  • Paid time off and sick leave
  • 401k matching contributions
  • Stock options

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