Senior Research Scientist, Biomaterials

Our Foundry Research group is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative Senior Research Scientist to join the dynamic team advancing biofabrication of mycelium biopolymers. The Senior Research Scientist, Biomaterials role will work closely with engineers and scientists in coordinating experiments and materials testing pipelines while setting priorities for discovery and continuous improvement. They will serve as an individual contributor and self-educator, as well as organizer and mentor. The Sr. Scientist will also be a key liaison with the Pilot Research team, which is responsible for research at large scale.

Essential Functions:

• Coordinate and execute a portfolio of research directed at refining and optimizing mycelium biomaterials
• Be an individual contributor to all aspects of the research portfolio, this includes generating efficient experimental designs; performing hands-on tasks; completing experimental analyses; writing final research reports; serving as peer reviewer of other reports; and presenting findings internally and externally
• Stay up to date with literature and standard test methods spanning a wide variety of topics, including fungal biology, bioprocess design, and materials science
• Contribute to overall project definition and objectives and be responsible for reporting progress and challenges and ultimately achieving objectives
• Be a go-to voice in suggesting and evaluating next steps, pipelines, and strategy for focused research and continuous process improvement, understand the business context for research strategy
• Work collaboratively with the engineering team to tighten design and operational specifications for all equipment and steps of the process based on biological responses and limitations
• Mentor, educate and train others to enable them to rise to R&D challenges and advance as scientists; may be responsible for facilitating career / skill development for others
• Translate vision into clear and realistic plans

Required Skills:

• Strong demonstrated capabilities with design of experiment, multifactorial research, and tools of statistical process control and optimization
• Proven track record of scientific discovery and strong technical ability to synthesize data into clear hypotheses that can be deconvoluted and tested
• Ability to screen a broad range of literature and standard test methods and incorporate them into Ecovative’s research priorities
• Capable of coordinating projects with numerous scientists and technical groups within the framework of a tightly knit, highly collaborative, cross-functional team operating under aggressive timelines
• Able to make complex decisions efficiently to ensure project milestones remain on schedule; anticipate outcomes and potential pain points before execution is completed
• Demonstrated multidisciplinary approach to science. Strong ability to synthesize information from disperse scientific fields to address tough biological questions
• Excellent communication skills, team mentality, and strong self-learning abilities
• Willingness to be hands-on as required or to organize and guide others’ work
• Ability and comfort with learning quickly when facing new problems; Enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks. Readily implements new tools or practices, is not fearful of acting with minimum necessary planning
• High level of technical data-handling competency across multiple software platforms
• Experienced at developing pipelines for data collection and analysis including sophisticated tools for analysis and visualization

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in biology, biochemistry, materials science, biological or chemical engineering or related fields and three (3) years of relevant work experience OR Bachelor’s degree in with minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience in biofabrication, biomaterials, or materials science
• Must be highly flexible, results oriented, independent self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment

Desired Skills:

• Experience in research leadership and mentoring other scientists
• Expertise in mechanical performance testing and analysis of materials
• Exceptional computer skills, especially in data interpretation and visualization
• Proven track record of technology development and implementation of new tools