Associate Scientist

Axiota US Inc•Wamego, KS

12d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is primarily based in our R&D laboratory and plays a critical role in developing, optimizing, and transferring microbiological innovations into production. The ideal candidate is a hands-on, detail-oriented biologist and critical thinker who excels at problem-solving in a fast-paced research environment and can work effectively both independently and collaboratively with minimal supervision.

Requirements

Master’s degree with at least three (3) years of relevant experience, or a PhD with at least one (1) year of research experience, in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or a related scientific field.
Hands-on experience with microbiological techniques, including aseptic processing and bacterial enumeration.
Familiarity with GLP, GMP, and laboratory documentation practices.
Experience with laboratory instruments, calibration, and maintenance.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis, calculations, and recordkeeping.
Working knowledge of statistical analysis and interpretation of large datasets.

Responsibilities

Apply analytical chemistry principles to accurately calculate media components for standard and specialized media formulations, including nanoscale calculations.
Conduct microbiological research and experimentation to support R&D and production initiatives.
Perform microbial cultivation using aseptic techniques and conduct bacterial enumeration in accordance with standard methods and scientific instrumentation.
Operate, monitor, and troubleshoot 3–10 L bench-scale fermenters, leveraging hands-on experience and a strong foundation in fermentation principles.
Support experimental design, scale-up, and implementation of R&D technologies into production processes.
Calibrate, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments, including gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) systems.
Review and apply scientific literature to design, plan, execute, and troubleshoot experiments.
Accurately document experimental data using Excel spreadsheets, batch records, and laboratory logs.
Enter, analyze, and interpret experimental data using appropriate statistical methods to identify trends and knowledge gaps.
Develop and validate scientific protocols, translate validated methods into standard operating procedures (SOPs), and author comprehensive scientific reports.
Follow established protocols while adhering to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Identify out-of-specification results, communicate findings to supervisors, and support investigations and corrective actions.
Maintain complete and accurate records to ensure a robust audit trail of R&D activities.
Support laboratory organization, housekeeping, and maintenance of equipment, materials, and glassware.