Research Associate/Senior Research Associate Fungal Molecular Biology/Strain Engineering

Nature’s Fynd is a groundbreaking food tech company born out of NASA-supported research on extremophiles in the geothermal pools of Yellowstone National Park. Our novel fermentation technology produces a sustainable source of complete protein using only a fraction of the resources required by traditional agriculture. As the challenge to feed the world’s expanding population grows, our mission is to create amazing foods and materials that provide sustainable choices and nurture the planet.
We’re looking for passionate, driven, and ambitious people to join our fast-growing team.
*Target start date Q2 2022

In this role you’ll make an impact by:

• Developing and applying tools of strain design and engineering to Fusarium MK7 to produce proteins
• Discovering connections between genotypes and key phenotypes of Fusarium MK7, to develop improved strains
• Identifying, evolving and/or engineering new strains to realize the full potential of Fusarium MK7
• Working well in teams to develop new technology and products you'd never achieve on your own

You preferably have:

• An innovative mind-set and can-do attitude coupled with an enthusiasm for engineering filamentous fungi for protein production.  
• An educational background in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience with PCR, cloning and other molecular biology methods
• Experience developing and optimizing molecular biology/synthetic biology tools for fungal strain engineering is preferable
• Experience with modern techniques in cloning / DNA assembly Experience in aseptic technique for handling microorganisms
• Experience in using standard genomics/molecular biology databases and software tools is desirable
• Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as interpersonal skills
• Attention to details and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team environment
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills
• Comfortable working in a start-up environment
• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills

Additional Information:The specific job level offered will depend on qualifications. As guidance, the Research Associate position requires a BS with 2 years of experience. Positions at the Senior Research Associate level require a B.S. degree with 5 years of experience. This job will be located at our R&D site in Chicago, IL