Research Assistant - Microbiology in Dülmen bei Yara

Research Assistant - Microbiology (m/f/d) in Dülmen bei Yara

Yara

Date posted: Sep 25, 2023

Location: Dülmen, NW, DE

Job Function: Other

Job Type: Permanent

Job Requisition ID: 17559

Research Assistant - Microbiology (m/f/d)

We at Yara are part of a global network, collaborating to profitably and responsibly solve some of the world's key challenges - resource scarcity, food insecurity and environmental change.

About the Unit

Yara has an ambitious strategic agenda to be the crop nutrition company for the future and is taking lead in the development towards sustainable agriculture and digital tools, to contribute to solving the challenges which the agricultural industry is facing globally. We have a worldwide presence with sales to ~150 countries and around 17 000 employees.

The function Yara Corporate Development will lead the transformation towards more sustainable and efficient food production, by innovating our offering and the way we work. R&D and Agronomy is responsible for developing new crop nutrition products and driving agronomic excellence within the organization.

Crop Nutrition Products R&D organization has the mandate to drive and execute product development and innovation pipeline of Yara. The team and research focus on development of new products aiming to improve crop nutrient use efficiency, stress resilience and crop production.

To strengthen our team, we are looking for a dedicated Research Assistant - Microbiology (m/f/d) at our location in Dülmen, NRW, Germany.

Responsibilities

What you will be doing

Execute and support work with microorganisms relevant to agriculture for their use as biostimulants, bioregulators, or soil improvers, and their secondary metabolites aimed at enhancing nutrient use efficiency and abiotic stress resilience.
Maintaining, propagating, and cultivating microorganisms to evaluate their effectiveness and viability in different media, soils, and plant systems.
Conducting samples for microbial community analyses and participating in protocol development to extract microbial metabolites in diverse laboratory and field settings.
Maintaining the required laboratory sterility and safety standards, including sterilizing equipment, media, and materials.
Ensure the implementation of safety protocols, especially concerning the handling of biological or hazardous materials, and keep standard operating procedures updated.
Collaborate with the product/production teams to optimize fermentation processes, such as optimizing growing media and quality controls.
Assist biological and biostimulant scientists in diligently recording, organizing, and reporting data and findings.

Profile

What you will bring

Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biotechnology or biology or related fields. A master’s degree is a plus.
Proven lab experience in handling microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi), preferably under S1 conditions. Experience with fermentation (working with fermentors) is a plus.
Highly skilled in aseptic techniques, including procedures for sterilization and handling of microorganisms.
Knowledge of safety procedures and regulatory standards for handling biological and hazardous materials related to microbiology labs, as well as relevant certifications such as Biosafety Level (BSL-1).
Hands-on expertise in microbiology lab equipment operation and maintenance, including, but not limited to, autoclaves, incubators, centrifuges, laminar flow hoods, and PCR machines.
Ensuring that the equipment are calibrated, cleaned, and maintained to meet precise specifications for accurate research outcomes and safety compliance.
A team player with excellent communication skills.
Proficiency in English, and knowledge of German is a plus.
Flexible and adaptable in dynamic, diverse research environments, such as laboratories, greenhouses, and field settings, while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.