Lab technician in applied microbiology and microbial biotechnology

The position includes the following tasks:

• You will conduct laboratory experiments and analyses for the Redoxome project, including axenic cultivation of phototrophically growing purple bacteria strains, in flasks, but also by operating batch and continuous reactors, and perform analyses of growth performance, substrate consumption and biomass characterization using techniques such as HPLC, GC, ICP, and others.
• You formulate suggestions about experimental design and methods, and assist in the development, execution and processing of these experiments.
• You actively participate in SUSTAIN’s microbial protein cluster, helping other members and projects when needed.
• You (co-)organize the laboratory and are (co-)responsible for the practical day-to-day operation of all aspects linked to cultivating and characterizing strains in the laboratory. This for instance includes practical support to the scientific team members and students, and an involvement in the implementation of our quality and safety strategy.

• You have at least a professional or academic bachelor’s degree in laboratory technology linked to biochemistry, biotechnology, environmental, biological, biomedical or pharmaceutical applications, or equivalent competences gained through prior work experience.
• You have a passion for microbes and sustainability, sustainable microbial biotechnology at the interface of industrial and environmental applications, and are highly motivated to contribute to research on purple bacteria.
• At least a professional or academic laboratory technology linked to biotechnology, environmental, biological, biomedical pharmaceutical applications,
• You have specific knowledge on applied microbiology and microbial biotechnology, including general laboratory skills, axenic techniques, bacteria cultivation, and familiarity with analytical techniques such as chromatography, microscopy, and with molecular biology methods.
• Proven laboratory experience working under sterile conditions, with additional expertise in conducting cell cultivation experiments and bioreactor runs is a plus.
• You are a practically oriented problem solver, are hands-on and eager to learn.
• You have good oral and written knowledge of English.
• You have excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate constructively and respectfully with scientific team members and BSc/MSc students.
• You are flexible, communicative, meticulous, creative, quality- and safety-oriented, cooperative and a person of integrity.
• You have good skills in planning and organisation.
• You are aware about the safety aspects of working in a laboratory, and driven to actively contribute to a safe workplace.
• You are proficient in MS Office (mainly Excel, Word, TEAMS and Outlook).