Research Associate – Bioanalytical Chemistry & Automation

Are you ready for a new beginning?

We need your talent, knowledge and dedication to better our world with biology.

Our purpose points the way

In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It’s how we've gotten so far. And it’s how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless.

We’re here to better our world with biology.

Join us as our new Research Associate

We are seeking a Research Associate to join our Bioanalytical Chemistry & Automation Department within our R&D site located in Davis, California. The site of 60+ employees in Davis works together to unlock the potential of bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi as biological solutions to address the needs in our world. We foster a collaborative environment with a shared vision for pursuing science that has an impact, by working smart and enjoying the scientific journey.

In this role you’ll make an impact by:

• Executing and developing screening assays to evaluate natural and engineered strains to identify promising phenotypes and characterizing strains in additional detail.

• Using, maintaining and troubleshooting analytical instrumentation including HPLC/UPLC, GC, mass spectrometers and plate readers.

• Interpreting assay results to uncover connections between genotypes and key phenotypes in iterative design, build, test, learn cycles.

• Ensuring timely delivery of results to internal or external customers and sharing them with the local and global Novozymes community

• Using Benchling to capture and track lab processes and experimental data

• Being an active participant in research planning, testing, discussions, and deciding what’s next for the project in conjunction with the collaborative project team.

To succeed you must hold:

• Prior hands-on experience using colorimetric, fluorometric, or chromatography methods and instrumentation (e.g. HPLC / UPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, UV-VIS, fluorescence) to evaluate performance and robustness of microbial strains and enzymes in high throughput and low throughput assays

• Hands-on experience maintaining and troubleshooting analytical chemistry instrumentation

• A strong desire to work hands-on as a member of an empowered, cross-disciplinary problem-solving team

• A mindset that embraces challenging science, recognizes change as an opportunity and finds satisfaction in team success

• Strong written and oral communication skills for sharing research results

• Commitment to a lab-based position with an expectation of substantial work on-site in Davis, CA.

• A B.S. or M.S. degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemical engineering, or related field with 0-3 years’ experience outside academia. PhD holders will not be considered for this role.

Prior experience with one or more of the following is especially beneficial in this position:

• Using Benchling to capture experimental data and connect data to adjacent workflows.

• Experience with Agilent HPLC, UPLC and GC instruments and Chemstation software

• Hands-on use operating and programming lab automation / liquid handling robots as part of high-throughput synthetic biology workflows (Biomek, Echo, Hamilton, Opentrons or similar)

• Familiarity with statistical software including JMP and application of design-of-experiments (DOE) methods to experimental design.

• Successful examples of writing your own scripts for scientific data capture, processing and analysis in Python, R or other language.

• Familiarity & practical work with microbiology and molecular biology methods used to engineer bacteria, yeast or filamentous fungi, such as aseptic technique, cloning & transformation techniques, and fermentation processes.

• Prior work with anaerobe strains is especially desirable.

• Experience utilizing cell free systems to express and evaluate enzymes (e.g. in vitro transcription translation / IVTT)

Location : Davis, CA (On-Site)
Application deadline: 11/1/25

Expected salary range: $63,000-$84,000 depending on relevant experience

Benefits you will enjoy:

• 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution
• Minimum of 3 weeks of vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time
• Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance
• Healthcare savings account option
• Employee assistance program
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• All benefits begin on your first day

Could our purpose be yours? Then apply today!

At Novonesis we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. We recommend you not to attach a cover letter to your application. Instead, please include a few sentences in your resume/CV about why you are applying. To ensure a fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your resume/CV.

Novonesis is dedicated to fostering a unique community by embracing and respecting differences. We make all employment decisions based on business needs, ensuring that every individual can thrive, regardless of identity or background such as ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Want to learn more?
Learn more about Novonesis, our purpose, and your career opportunities at novonesis.com

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