Research Associate/Research Fellow in Fermentation

at  Heriot Watt University

Role: Senior Fermentation Scientist/Manager
Directorate : School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Salary : Grade 7 (£36,023-£45,585) or Grade 8 (£45,585-£56,021)
Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term (July 2029)
Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full-time staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE). Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

IBioIC are seeking to appoint a full-time Senior Fermentation Scientist / Manager for a period of 5 years who will be responsible for management of the fermentation (Upstream Bioprocessing) projects that are performed within the FlexBio (The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre’s (IBioIC) Bioprocessing Scale-up facility within the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) and within the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3).
The role will be partly lab and partly office based and primarily involves ensuring fermentation and scale-up projects are conducted for industry and academic clients in a safe, professional, timely and organised manner. The role holder is expected to work with the wider Scale-up team (including downstream processing team), facility manager and IBioIC management team to ensure the Scale-up facility facilitates the commercialisation of biotechnology projects and company from lab scale to pilot scale using a fee-for-service model of operation.
As a technical expert in the field of fermentation and microbiology, the role holder is required to take responsibility for all day-to-day aspects of fermentation project scoping, planning, execution and analysis, as well as being the point of contact for industry and academic clients during project execution. The role includes management of technical staff, with responsibility for their personnel management, training and development, as well as hands on participation in technical tasks as determined by the workload and technical expertise required.
The role holder will be line managed by the FlexBio Facility and Operations Manager.

The post holder will be required to:

• Work with the IBioIC Facilities & Operations Manager and Scale-up Business Development Manager, and wider technical team, to design and support leading activities ranging from technology transfer, process optimisation and protocol development within the areas of fermentation and upstream bioprocessing.
• Manage, plan and execute industry-led fermentation projects at pilot scale.
• Lead on the interpretation of data, while consulting with other members of the project team and with internal technical and academic teams.
• Work on multiple projects at various stages in parallel, providing updates on project progress and timelines to clients and to IBioIC management.
• Manage and mentor junior staff, ensuring their workload is prioritised accordingly and are supported with CPD activities.
• Lead weekly lab facility meetings with the wider team to improve common working, solve problems and mediate improvement to team and facility operation.
• Ensure a safe environment for staff and create and review risk assessments and Process COSSH for projects
• Attend client meetings at short notice and be able to ask technical questions to explore clients current process understanding and develop prospective work package programmes based on expert knowledge.
• Input into funding applications for additional capital and resourcing opportunities.
• Work closely with colleagues in the downstream processing (DSP) team to ensure work is well coordinated.
• Network effectively and be comfortable meeting new people whilst being able to interact in a professional manner, for example prospective clients in the facility and at external events.
• Engage in continuous professional development.
• Ensure knowledge and expertise within the team fit the wider IBioIC strategic aims
• Accommodate and facilitate preventative maintenance and repairs of equipment within the facility, liaising with suppliers to troubleshoot problems
• Design and lead Upstream Bioprocessing training course for industrial and academic attendees.