Strain Engineering Scientist I/II/III

Description

Lygos is an industrial biotechnology company developing biobased sustainable solutions to improve everyday products. Our technology platform enables better economics and unlocks the power of organic acids specialty chemicals, enabling our partners to offer sustainable alternatives to legacy petroleum-based plastics, fragrances, home and personal care products, and more.

Position Description

Lygos is seeking to hire a skilled Scientist I/II/III that will work as part of a collaborative team to drive our development of new microbial strains and processes for improved production of bio-based chemicals. Ideally, this person will have experience with yeast genetic engineering, culturing, and have an understanding of microbial physiology and metabolism as it relates to small molecule production. The position will involve the design and construction of DNA expression and integration cassettes, building and screening combinatorial strain/enzyme libraries, enzyme characterization, measurement and analysis of strain performance, and the development and application of assays to improve enzyme properties or interrogate cellular conditions. At Lygos, a Scientist I/II/III is expected to be a leader in the lab, and to be capable of working independently. Lygos offers a diverse, respectful, and supportive workplace.

Responsibilities

• Work within the Biotechnology team to efficiently and accurately develop and test new strain engineering hypotheses and overcome production bottlenecks
• Lead design and construction efforts of DNA expression and integration cassettes and generate genetically engineered microbes and protein engineering libraries
• Perform protein purification and design and conduct in vitro experiments to characterize enzyme kinetics
• Develop new molecular biology tools and methodologies to enable more efficient strain engineering and optimization
• Design experiments to screen production performance of new microbial strains and libraries and interpret resulting data
• Engage in technical discussions, research planning, and regularly present results at company meetings
• Maintain good laboratory practices and participate in the development of standard operating procedures
• Work collaboratively with Lygos’ fermentation, downstream processing, and analytical departments to support career development and facilitate the learning of new skill sets
• Mentor and supervise Research Associates

Education and Experience Requirements

• Ph.D. in chemical engineering, bioengineering, molecular biology, or biochemistry (or related field), with >0, >2 , or >5 years of relevant experience for Scientist I, II, and III, respectively
• Proficient with microbial genetic engineering and molecular biology bench work
• Experience with metabolic and protein engineering
• Experience with computational protein design (homology modeling, molecular docking) a plus
• Experience with computational and experimental systems biology methodologies a plus (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, FBA/stoichiometric metabolic models)
• Experience with general lab procedures, sterile techniques, and data interpreting/reporting 
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multitasking environment
• Strong organization skills and proven ability to manage details
• Energetic, creative, team player
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to motivate team members and support a strong, healthy, collaborative laboratory culture
• Ability to deliver on projects and assignments within timeframes
• Experience in a synthetic biology/metabolic engineering startup a plus

Compensation and Benefits: Lygos offers highly competitive salaries, stock options, bonus and benefits, including medical and dental insurance, unlimited paid time off, and 401(k).

Salary range: $110,000 - $175,000.  Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location, skill, experience, and performance.

The benefits and stock purchase described above are subject to the terms and conditions of any governing plans, policies, practices, agreements, or other materials or documents as in effect from time to time, including but not limited to terms and conditions regarding eligibility.

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required.  Lygos may agree to sponsor an individual for an employment visa now or in the future if there is a shortage of individuals with particular skills for this job.  

Location information:

Lygos is headquartered in Berkeley, CA.   This position is currently based at our Berkeley, CA location and will move to our Hayward, CA location at the end of 2024.