Research Associate I/II, Fungal Strain Engineering
Company Description
LifeMine Therapeutics, Inc. is the first biotechnology company exploiting the unique ability of fungi to produce powerful drugs optimized through billions of years of evolution and deploying these molecules for the treatment of intractable human diseases via novel biological mechanisms. The company is using a genome mining and recombinant overexpression approach to mount a massive search for novel drugs through the fungal biosphere. With operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Manhattan, New York, LifeMine brings a unique approach to its revolutionary scientific and medical mission.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Research Associate for our Cambridge, MA site with experience working with fungi and with expertise in aseptic technique, media and buffer preparation, single colony isolation, culture inoculation and light microscopy. The position is engineering of fungi to support the core research behind LifeMine’s genomically-enabled drug discovery platform.
Job Responsibilities
• Assist in fungal transformation by maintaining strains and assisting in colony isolation using a light/fluorescent microscopy.
• Prepare and manage buffers and supplies used for transformation
• Perform experiments to develop protocols for engineering diverse fungi
• Actively collaborate with LifeMine’s Synthetic biology, NGS, Fermentation and Automation teams to design experiments to improve the transformation workflow
• Proactively evaluate new technologies, be versed with current literature, and implement new features and functionality into the genomically-enabled drug discovery pipeline.
Job Requirements
• B.S. in biology, microbiology, mycology, or related field
• Experience handling microorganisms and experience with filamentous fungi a plus
• Experience preparing buffers and media
• Experience in sterile technique, streaking for isolates and isolation of single colonies using light microscopy
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task during daily routine
• A desire to be in a laboratory setting, being involved in experimental design and downstream generation of scientific data
• A sense of adventure and excitement to help build a new company and work in a highly dynamic team environment