Job Description

Join Us As Our Newest Scientist!

We need your talent, knowledge and dedication to better our world with biology.

In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity's biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It's how we've gotten so far. And it's how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless.

We're here to better our world with biology.

Join us as our newest Scientist!

We are seeking a Scientist to join our Strain Engineering Department within our R&D site located in Davis, California. The site of 60+ employees in Davis works together to unlock the potential of bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi as biological solutions to address the needs in our world. We foster a collaborative environment with a shared vision for pursuing science that has an impact, by working smart and enjoying the scientific journey.

In this role you'll make an impact by:

• Working in cross-functional teams of researchers to design, build and test engineered microbes to support a grant funded project that is a collaboration with an industry partner and an academic institution.
• Applying tools of strain design and engineering for the purpose of enzyme production to a diverse collection of microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi.
• Uncovering connections between genotypes and key phenotypes in iterative design, build, test, learn cycles.

Minimum job requirements:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or related field or a M.S. with 5+ years of work experience. Applicants with a B.S. degree in a related field with 8+ years of experience will also be considered.
• Solid conceptual and practical knowledge of molecular biology including CRISPR tools.
• Experience genetically engineering at least one of the following organism types, Bacillus sp., K. phaffii (Pichia) yeast and/or filamentous fungi.
• A strong desire to work as a member of an empowered, cross-disciplinary problem-solving team.
• A mindset that embraces challenging science, recognizes change as an opportunity and finds satisfaction in team success.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Prior experience with one or more of the following is especially beneficial in this position:

• Contributed to strain improvement programs focused on protein expression or other applied objectives.
• Designing and executing biochemical assays to measure enzyme expression and activity.
• Experience developing and utilizing small scale experiments to evaluate candidate enzyme expressing strains.
• Demonstrated expertise in combining genomic, bioinformatic, metabolic pathway and mechanistic understandings with computational methodologies to develop strain improvement strategies.
• Familiarity with Benchling or other similar electronic laboratory notebook system.
• Operating and programming liquid handling robots (Biomek, Hamilton, or Opentrons).
• Familiarity with statistical software including JMP.
• Python coding experience for scientific data analysis.

Application deadline: July 20, 2025

Expected salary range: $95,000-$115,000 (Position will be hired at a level commensurate with relevant experience).

This position will support an externally funded grant, and employment is contingent on continued funding. The initial term of hire will be for two years with ability to renew contingent on continued funding from the funding agency. Employment for this term limited position will be at will. You or Novonesis may terminate this employment relationship at any time with or without reason.

Benefits you will enjoy:

• 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution!
• Minimum of 3 weeks vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time
• Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance
• Healthcare savings account option with generous employer contribution
• Employee assistance program
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• All benefits begin on your first day!

Could our purpose be yours? Then apply today! At Novonesis we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. We recommend you not to attach a cover letter to your application. Instead, please include a few sentences in your resume/CV about why you are applying. To ensure a fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your resume/CV. Novonesis is dedicated to fostering a unique community by embracing and respecting differences. We make all employment decisions based on business needs, ensuring that every individual can thrive, regardless of identity or background such as ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Stay alert: Avoid recruitment scams At Novonesis, we are committed to maintaining a safe and transparent recruitment process. Please be aware of potential scams targeting job seekers and take note of the following: Novonesis will never ask for sensitive personal information, such as bank account details, Social Security numbers, or passwords, at any stage of the hiring process. Novonesis does not make employment offers without conducting interviews with candidates. If you receive suspicious communication claiming to be from Novonesis, please do not share any personal or financial information. We encourage you to verify the legitimacy of the message by contacting us directly through our official channels.

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