Senior Research Associate

Plantable Foods - Vista, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Vista, CA

Food Manufacturing

About the position

Plantible, backed by Astanor Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Piva Capital, Kellogg's, and Vectr Ventures, is a vertically integrated biology company that is unlocking the power in plants in service of people & planet. Our mission is to create solutions that empower customers to make sustainable and regenerative choices without compromising on quality. We are beginning with the food industry. We are seeking a passionate and mission-driven Senior Research Associate (SRA) Downstream Processing with theoretical knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry and good understanding of chemical engineering /bioprocessing principles with hands-on lab experience with various unit operations like centrifugation, filtration and protein analysis methods. This individual will develop and execute lab experiments to improve downstream processes using thorough data analysis and working collaboratively with our team of RA's, Scientists and Engineers. The individual will have the opportunity to make an immediate and sustainable impact in the development of the company.

Responsibilities

• Development and implementation of innovative processing methods to produce, purify, and characterize novel plant protein ingredients.
• Perform standard protein characterization assays.
• Design, execute, and analyze experiments to improve the quality and quantity of our plant protein and any related coproducts.
• Development of protein production protocols geared towards high quality, robust and cost-effective extraction of plant-based proteins.
• Bioanalytical characterization and method development (chromatography, spectroscopy, etc.) to assess our protein product at various stages during our process.
• Bioprocess development of unit operations from laboratory scale to commercial scale to include centrifugation, lysis/homogenization, separation and filtration, drying and chromatography.

Requirements

• BS in Biochemistry/Chemical Engineering with 3+ years of experience in an industry setting or MS in Biochemistry/Chemical Engineering with 2+ years of experience in an industry setting.
• Previous lab experience with protein production, purification, and lysis or extraction of compounds from plant or other cellular material is desired.
• An understanding of downstream processing unit operations such as preparative chromatography, centrifugation, membrane filtration, and other methods for liquid/solid separation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive working in a lab environment.
• Ability to learn quickly, solve complex problems and have excellent data analysis skills.
• Being a self-starter and able to respond creatively and simply to continuous change and steady growth environment.
• Team player spirit and an open mind to contribute towards company goals.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment where the primary focus is on simplification, stabilization and optimization.

Benefits

• Competitive health and wellness benefits
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Discretionary Unlimited PTO Program
• Paid Holidays
• 401k Program
• Career Stipend
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Working in a rapidly growing, flexible and entrepreneurial environment
• Team building and company-wide events
• Financial support with your relocation, if necessary, ensuring a smooth transition
• And of course, lots of beautiful land for outdoor activities!