Application Research, Scientist

About Pivot Bio:    

Fueled by an innovative drive and a deep understanding of the soil microbiome, Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in agriculture.  Our first commercial product harnesses the power of naturally-occurring microbes to provide nutrients to crops.  We are dedicated to providing new sustainable ways for farmers to improve yield as they work to help feed the world’s growing population.  Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on OneZero or CNN. 

Position: Application Research, Scientist 

Location: Hayward, California 

We are looking for a scientist to develop and optimize our current and future-needs formulations targeted toward various applications. The successful candidate should have a strong background in chemistry/biochemistry with demonstrated expertise in ingredient identification and evaluation, and interactions of active and non-active ingredient in dry or liquid forms.   

The candidate would be part of Application Research team located at our Hayward Facility, a growing team innovating the most cutting-edge product concepts in Ag Biologicals, within Bioprocessing and Formulation function. The candidate is responsible for designing and executing experiments to evaluate suites of dry or liquid ingredients added to active dry or liquid intermediate formulation concepts with the goal of developing easy to apply, stable, cost-effective product concepts for various target crops.  

The Candidate should have a working knowledge of microbe-chemical and chemical-chemical interaction, an eye for detail, skill with troubleshooting laboratory equipment, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. We expect the candidate to thrive in a fast-paced environment, adapt to changing research objectives, and operate independently with minimal oversight. If this is you, you will enjoy the satisfaction of being a crucial member of an innovative team. 

Responsibilities: 

• Be a leader in the lab, a subject matter expert in formulation science, particularly from a chemistry background perspective  
• Optimize current, or develop novel, biological formulations that are miscible and applied through commercial agricultural equipment, and have a general ease of use and efficacy associated with them 
• Operate and maintain lab-scale processing equipment, and as needed produce larger volumes (10-50 gal) of formulations 
• Plate and count microbes using aseptic technique 
• Ownership and maintenance of databases 
• Technical writing (protocols, reports, and SOPs) 
• Attend and lead R&D meetings  
• Fluent in Microsoft Office products (Excel and Powerpoint), and adaptable to new software 
• As needed, be able to drive to/from the Hayward and Berkeley locations  

Requirements: 

• MS with 5-7 years or PhD with 0-2 years of experience in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, or related discipline 
• At least two years of practical (hands-on experience, could be academic or industry) of formulation development which could include liquid or solid state products; pharmaceutical or biotechnological or agricultural in nature 
• Expertise in the identifying and evaluating of surfactants, antifoams, coating agents, or similar chemistries 
• Familiarity with product development, but actual work experience is not required 
• A background and desire to manage laboratory spaces is preferred 
• Able to perform physically repetitive tasks  
• An understanding of research/development, and the principles behind experiment design and execution (e.g. importance of controls, answering research questions, and testing hypotheses) 
• Great communication - ability to understand the needs of others and clearly explain ideas 
• Strong ability to work independently and ask good questions 
• Able to work 8 hour workdays and 5 day work weeks 
• A valid driver’s license and personal vehicle 
  
  
  *Authorized to work in the United States 

What we offer: 

• Competitive package in a disruptive startup 
• Stock options 
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance with employer-paid premiums 
• Life, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability policies 
• Employee Assistance Program with free referrals and discounts 
• 401(k) plan, 3% Match 
• Commuter benefits 
• Annual Training & Development support 
• Flexible vacation policy with a generous holiday schedule 
• Exciting opportunity to work with a talented and fun team