Microbial Strain Engineer

Do you want a central role and accelerate your development in our new DNA Foundry team?

If your field of expertise is molecular biology, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering or a related discipline and you are looking for an opportunity to accelerate your learning curve and at the same time make an impact beyond the average, we have the perfect job for you.

You will join DTU Biosustain where we create novel methods and technologies as a foundation for the development of new environmentally friendly products, better and less energy consuming manufacturing processes, new medical treatments, climate friendly farming, etc. Right now, we are upgrading the core workflows with five components i.e., Genome Design, DNA foundry, ALE, Big Data Engine and Genome Analytics. That is why we need you to join our new DNA foundry team with all of your good ideas as a key contributor in developing foundry pipeline operations. By doing so, you will have an opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects and follow projects from design to production.

Adapt various molecular biology protocols to the foundry equipment

As Microbial Strain Engineer your overall focus is to support the build part of iterative Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle in the Bio Foundry aiming to create semi-synthetic production strains through targeted genome engineering. You will play a key role in our quest for creating a pipeline that facilitates high-throughput gene and pathway assemblies and genome-wide target specific gene editing.

More specifically, your mission will be to adapt various molecular biology protocols to the foundry equipment and continually improve our pipeline operations. As a part of this, you will support the creation of workflows of desired throughput by working closely with our automation unit. Your primary tasks will be to:

• Adapt molecular biology protocols to the foundry equipment e.g., genome editing, DNA assembly, transformation and strain validation
• Operate multiple foundry platforms e.g. liquid handlers, colony pickers, Next Generation Sequencing
• Plan, co-ordinate and execute strain-engineering projects while managing experimental schedule with other team members
• Analyse, report data and effectively communicate any foreseen delays or process deviations
• Write and maintaining SOPs
• Train colleagues and junior staff
• Evolve and improve processes in response to requirements and new technologies

Based at DTU in Lyngby, Copenhagen you can look forward to be working with the latest technologies and equipment and collaborate with top class scientists from all over the world.

PhD or equivalent in molecular biology, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering or related

We are looking for a colleague that likes to create results via good and positive team work. As part of this you must thrive in a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural and highly interactive environment where knowledge sharing and collaboration are key to succeed. As you will have a central role in the new team, you must be very good at planning not only your own tasks but also in projects involving multiple stakeholders. Additionally, your CV comprises:

• Experience in some or several of the following areas: PCRs, plasmid construction, gene synthesis, DNA assembly, CRISPR-based genome editing, E. coli and Yeast genome engineering, Next Generation sequencing
• Prior experience in working with multidisciplinary collaborative teams or projects
• Experience in molecular biology method development
• Experience in metabolic engineering or microbial physiology
• Motivation for handling multiple foundry platforms and technologies
• Experience in reporting and working with experimental data in digital format
• Experience in managing laboratory inventories related to strain engineering

Salary and terms of employment

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

Application and contact

Please submit your online application no later than 20 November 2020 (Danish time). Apply at www.career.dtu.dk Open the “Apply online” link, fill out the form and attach your CV, cover letter, diploma and if relevant list of publications.

If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Research Scientist, Vijayalakshmi Kandasamy at vijkan@biosustain.dtu.dk or Senior Researcher, Douglas McCloskey at domccl@biosustain.dtu.dk. If necessary, we will set up an additional phone call to ensure your understanding of the job and your many opportunities

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain)

Recent progress in our ability to read and write genomic code, combined with advances in automation, analytics and data science, has fundamentally changed the scope and ambition of harnessing the potential of biological systems. Big data approaches and analysis of biological systems are key research instruments at the Center. DTU Biosustain utilizes these advances for microbial cell factory design to foster sustainable lifestyles in relation to three application areas: Sustainable Chemicals, Natural Products, and Microbial Foods. Learn more at biosustain.dtu.dk.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,000 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. Our main campus is in Kgs. Lyngby north of Copenhagen and we have campuses in Roskilde and Ballerup and in Sisimiut in Greenland.