Full-Time

Scientist I

Analytical Biochemist

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

Pivot Bio

Pivot Bio

201-500 employees

Microbial solutions for sustainable nitrogen fixation

Food & Agriculture
AI & Machine Learning

Compensation Overview

$108.8k - $136kAnnually

Junior, Mid

Berkeley, CA, USA

Position requires onsite presence in Berkeley, CA.

Category
Lab & Research
Life Sciences
Required Skills
R
Tableau
JIRA
Asana
Requirements
  • MS/PhD in biology, chemistry, bioengineering, chemical engineering, or related field.
  • Minimum of 5 years of industry experience, preferably within a high throughput screening operations environment.
  • Excellent oral and verbal communication skills with collaborative experience with interdisciplinary teams.
  • Able to draw conclusions and communicate results from large data sets.
  • Highly resourceful and comfortable working both independently and in a team environment.
  • Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills.
  • Must be flexible and responsive to changing priorities.
  • Experience using statistical data analysis software (e.g., JMP, Tableau, R, Spotfire, etc.).
  • Experience using project management software (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheets, etc.).
  • Experience in statistical process control, 5S, Six Sigma, and/or lean manufacturing principles.
Responsibilities
  • Plan, organize, and execute high throughput analytical workflows to assess performance of gene-edited microbial strains from many different species for agricultural applications.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with analytical characterization techniques (e.g., liquid/gas chromatography, UV/Fluorescence, and electrophoresis).
  • Ability to independently conceive, develop, and implement advanced scientific techniques.
  • Develop new chromatographic methods for quantification of new indications of interest.
  • Become proficient at assigned automated workflows and error recovery within those workflows; use this knowledge to ensure success of screens.
  • Operate laboratory automation (GC and HPLC) to execute efficient, robust, high-throughput workflows.
  • Work with internal customers in Strain Engineering, Fermentation & Formulation, Quality, and Regulatory to deliver high quality assay data that is in-spec and on time.
  • Collaborate with the Scientific Computing team to build workflows for data tracking, dashboards, and reports.
  • Analyze large data sets and communicate results to stakeholders across teams.
  • Author and follow SOPs to deliver consistent, high-quality results.
  • Maintain a safe lab environment for yourself and others.
  • Ensure general lab upkeep and equipment maintenance.
  • Opportunity to mentor junior team members as we expand capabilities and capacity of the HTS team.

Pivot Bio offers a sustainable alternative to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers for farmers in the United States. Their main product utilizes naturally occurring microbes to fix nitrogen in cereal crops like corn, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants. This biological nitrogen fixation process reduces the reliance on synthetic fertilizers, which can cause environmental issues such as leaching and denitrification. The microbial products are applied directly to the crops, providing a consistent supply of nitrogen throughout the growing season, which helps improve crop yields. Pivot Bio differentiates itself from competitors by using advanced technologies like machine learning and computational modeling to enhance the effectiveness of its solutions. The company's goal is to transform agriculture by providing efficient and environmentally friendly methods for meeting the nitrogen needs of crops.

Company Stage

Series D

Total Funding

$600.1M

Headquarters

Berkeley, California

Founded

2011

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

-6%

1 year growth

-13%

2 year growth

-2%
Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Pivot Bio's products are now used across 5 million acres in the U.S., indicating strong market adoption and growth potential.
  • The company's innovative N-OVATOR program has verified the avoidance of over 315,000 metric tons of CO2e, showcasing its significant environmental impact.
  • Recognition from Fast Company, CNBC, and TIME highlights Pivot Bio's industry leadership and potential for continued innovation.

What critics are saying

  • The agricultural sector's traditional reliance on synthetic fertilizers may slow the adoption of Pivot Bio's microbial solutions.
  • High dependency on the U.S. market could limit growth opportunities and expose the company to regional agricultural risks.

What makes Pivot Bio unique

  • Pivot Bio's use of naturally occurring microbes for nitrogen fixation offers a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, setting it apart in the agricultural sector.
  • The company's integration of machine learning and computational modeling to optimize microbial performance is a unique technological advantage.
  • Pivot Bio's on-seed technology, which seamlessly integrates nitrogen with planting, eliminates the need for special equipment, making it highly accessible to farmers.

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