Senior Research Associate, Formulation

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 products harness the power of naturally occurring microbes to provide nutrients to crops and new sustainable ways for farmers to reduce the usage of fertilizers as they work to help feed the world’s growing population.

Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on Forbes or PBS News Hour. 

Location: Berkeley, CA

Position:  Senior Research Associate Formulation  

We are looking for a strong researcher who thrives in the laboratory. The successful candidate should be willing to learn and support innovation, while maintaining excellent laboratory practices. Reporting to the formulation scientist, and working in a beautiful laboratory facility in Berkeley, the candidate will be responsible for supporting the development of innovative formulations intended to deliver microbial actives that improve nitrogen use efficiency in corn. We are seeking a candidate with prior hands-on experience with cell separation technologies, such as tangential flow filtration (TFF). Familiarity with drying technologies including freeze drying and spray drying is a plus. The candidate should have a strong foundation in chemistry, a working knowledge of microbiology, 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 a growing team innovating the most cutting edge products in Ag Biologicals.     

Responsibilities:  

• Lead laboratory-scale TFF cell recovery efforts including operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, vendor communications, and exploring system flexibility and alternative configurations 
• Conduct experiments examining how formulation and process variables impact the biological and physical quality of laboratory prototypes, producing replicable results that are statistically relevant 
• Onboard new analytical and processing techniques, conducting validation experiments to assess their potential incorporation into formulation workflows 
• Work in a laboratory setting to generate liquid and dry microbial formulations 
• Operate and maintain lab-scale processing and analytical equipment 
• Handle microbial samples (including powders) in a manner that promotes operator safety, lab hygiene, and sample integrity 
• Maintain samples in an organized manner while conducting long term shelf life studies   
• Plate and count microbes using aseptic technique 
• Analyze samples for water activity, moisture content, viscosity, pH  
• Document experiment details and data in both physical and electronic notebooks 
• Collect, enter, and analyze data 
• Follow (and develop new) SOPs  
• Attend and contribute to R&D meetings  
• As needed, be able to drive to/from the Hayward and Berkeley locations   

 Physical Demands:  

• Job will involve a mix of laboratory and computer-based work  
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, or fingers 
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing 
• Communicating with others to exchange information 
• Occasionally perform physically repetitive tasks like pipetting, sample weighing, and sample packaging 
• Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds 
• Able to work 8-hour workdays and 5-day work weeks  

Qualifications and Experience:   

• Bachelor of science degree in life sciences, food science, biological systems engineering, biochemical engineering, or related field or equivalent experience  
• 4+ years' experience in a fast-paced industry research lab environment 
• Prior experience with tangential flow filtration / membrane separations at laboratory or pilot scale 
• Familiar with sterile/aseptic technique for handling microbes  
• Comfortable with standard microbiology techniques, including CFU/viability plating for cell counting 
• An understanding of research/development, and the principles behind experiment design and execution (e.g., importance of controls, answering research questions, and testing hypotheses)  
• Excellent communication skills- ability to understand the needs of others and clearly explain ideas  
• Strong ability to work independently, ask good questions, and recognize anomalies  
• Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle 

*Must be 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