Assistant Scientist

**Job title - Assistant Scientist (71764)**

**Location - Geneva, Switzerland**

**Job model -** **On site**

We are looking for a highly driven and motivated:
**Assistant Scientist - Strain Engineering, Automation and Screening**

As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world’s growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. dsm-firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than €12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life every day, everywhere, for billions of people.

At dsm-firmenich, being a force for good is not optional. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a shared responsibility woven into our daily work to not only benefit our People, Customers & Communities but also drive business value. Equal access to opportunities is a given, belonging is a shared feeling, authenticity is celebrated.

As a successful applicant, you will join our Science and Research Biotechnology Group in Geneva, Switzerland. In your role, you will use high-throughput (HT) techniques and equipment (e.g. liquid handling robotics) to construct microorganisms that produce diverse molecules for new target discovery and prototyping, and to screen for improved strain or enzymatic performance. Within our ambition to expand our robotic capabilities in Geneva, you will; with the help of automation experts from other sites globally, and in agreement with a diverse set of multi-disciplinary team members; design, implement, maintain, and operate automated workflows in the areas genomics, DNA assembly and strain construction and strain/enzyme screenings.

You are a highly motivated metabolic or automation engineer, eager to contribute and deliver on our ambitions to further expand our Biotech Discovery platform. Ideally, you have a strong background in molecular biology and laboratory automation and have experience in microbial physiology and analytical methods.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Operate and maintain automation instruments, modify protocol parameters, and program various automated methods.
- Identify strain development workflow needs and opportunities, where automation can improve manual processes; and design and implement proposed solutions.
- In close collaboration with scientist and automation experts from different biotech labs globally, troubleshoot and optimize automated workflows.
- Prepare reagents and materials to support daily operations and take care of the laboratory equipment that you use.
- Plan and perform experimental work in collaboration with scientists and other technicians within your team in a safe and effective way.
- Enter and process data from your experiments using standard analysis tools and electronic lab journals (ELNs).
- Interpret, analyse, and report the results of experiments to team members in meetings via presentations and by written reports.

**We bring**:

- A rich history and a promising future of bold scientific innovation and passionate creation with our customers in nutrition, health, and beauty.
- To be part of an interdisciplinary team of industry-leading researchers with state-of-the-art equipped research facilities in the areas of biotechnology, bioprocessing and analytical sciences.
- To work at the interface of molecular biology, microbiology, and robotics. By using high-throughput methods, strain engineering and screening techniques we discover and prototype innovative molecules for the industry.
- Career development with great opportunities to learn and grow.
- Eagerness to be one team and learn from each other to bring progress to life and create a better future.

**You Bring**:

- Master level or bachelor level education, plus several years of experience in a professional laboratory setting, in the areas of molecular biology, genetics, life sciences, biotechnology, lab automation, synthetic biology, biochemistry or related field.
- Familiarity with various liquid handler automation software packages and proficiency in protocol development, modification and improvement is a pre-requisite. Interest in programming (any language) would be an asset.
- A track record of successful development, implementation, and continuous improvement of lab automation processes in the laboratory.
- Strong knowledge of molecular biology, microbial physiology, and best practices in biotechnology laboratories.
- Experience managing multiple tasks, including scheduling robotic instrumentation, and executing daily workflow processes.
- Plenty of initiative and eagerness to learn and work in multidisciplinary teams in an innovative laboratory env