Research Associate in Yeast Biotechnology

About the role

We’re looking for a brilliant Research Associate to help pioneer the development and commercialisation of a palm oil substitute from yeast, in a collaborative project between the University of Bath and the sustainable biotech start-up the Clean Food Group. You will combine scientific expertise and entrepreneurial flair, being ready to identify and seize opportunities to keep the Clean Food Group at the forefront of sustainable technology development.  

You will join a dynamic team of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs based across the University of Bath and the Clean Food Group, London. Your role, based at the University, will be pivotal in further developing low energy techniques for the downstream processing of the yeast, and honing the fermentation through use of novel media formulation. To achieve this, you will join a larger team developing media from waste resources and work with enzymatic extraction techniques to replace solvent extraction of the oil product. 

As such you'll play a key role at the heart of the business, driving the research and development forward under the leadership of Professor Christopher Chuck. While this role is for an initial 9 months, we would envision a successful candidate being a part of the journey for the longer term, subject to further funding.  

About you

Our ideal candidate will:

• Hold a PhD in upstream or downstream bioprocesses, having worked with microbes or enzymes to produce target compounds
• Have experience of culturing or working with yeast and/or enzymatic reactions
• Be comfortable working within a wider multidisciplinary team including non-technical people
• Have a keen interest in sustainability

Further information

For an informal discussion about the role please contact:

Prof Chris Chuck at cc245@bath.ac.uk.

Please ensure you submit your application through our website.  

What we can offer you:

• a very generous employer contributory pension scheme
• generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• we are a family-friendly University and with an increasingly agile workforce, are open to flexible working arrangements
• an excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities
• a number of support options available for new and existing staff to help with the cost of some immigration expenses which you may be eligible for: Relocation allowance, Visa Reimbursement, Interest-Free Loan.

Find out more about our benefits.

We consider ourselves to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on our teams. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

Find out from our staff what makes the University of Bath a great place to work. 

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