Full-Time

Mycology Research Associate

Posted on 1/31/2025

MycoWorks

MycoWorks

201-500 employees

Produces sustainable mycelium-based leather alternative

Junior, Mid

Spartanburg, SC, USA

Category
Public Health
Biology Lab & Research
Biology & Biotech
Required Skills
Data Analysis
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Bioprocess Engineering, or a related field.
  • 2-3 years of experience in microbiological research or industrial settings, with a focus on fungal fermentation or bioprocessing.
  • Expertise in microbiological techniques such as aseptic technique, media preparation, cell culture maintenance, and fungal propagation.
  • Experience with bioprocess development, including fermentation or scale-up processes, is highly desirable.
  • Knowledge of molecular biology techniques (e.g., PCR, DNA sequencing) is a plus.
  • Ability to critically evaluate experimental results, draw conclusions, and propose process improvements.
  • Strong team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of collaborating across diverse scientific and engineering teams.
  • Strong organizational skills and meticulous documentation practices.
Responsibilities
  • Conduct research to optimize fungal growth and metabolic efficiency, focusing on scalability for industrial production.
  • Independently design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments with minimal supervision, ensuring accurate and reproducible results, while performing tasks aligned with production needs, such as substrate preparation, macro tray or agar plate creation, and monitoring fungal growth metrics.
  • Apply aseptic techniques, DNA extraction and analysis, microbial culture maintenance, and fermentation processes to grow and scale fungal strains.
  • Design, execute, and analyze experiments to assess fungal physiology, biomass production, and other key performance metrics, while considering the downstream impact on manufacturing processes.
  • Utilize Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, and other tools to track experimental data, analyze results, and maintain detailed records to support research and process development.
  • Support process design and optimization, contributing to the transition of lab-scale experiments to production-scale processes.
  • Assist in scaling up laboratory processes and transferring them to full-scale production, ensuring all protocols are aligned with manufacturing requirements.
  • Work closely with team members across microbiology, biotechnology, and bioprocess engineering to identify improvements and implement solutions.
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality to conduct in-process checks, address quality incidents, and provide training on the floor, especially for new strains or organisms that differ from current processes.
  • Ensure compliance with all safety protocols and maintain a safe, organized, and productive work environment.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience in industrial mycology or biotechnology preferred.
  • Experience with R, or other programming tools for data analysis, is a bonus.

MycoWorks produces a leather alternative called Reishi™, made from mycelium, which is a part of fungus. This material is designed to be sustainable and is appealing to fashion brands and designers seeking eco-friendly options. Reishi™ has already been used in luxury items, showcasing its performance and aesthetic qualities. MycoWorks stands out from competitors by operating the world's first commercial-scale Fine Mycelium™ plant, located in South Carolina, which allows them to significantly increase production to meet rising demand. The company's goal is to capture a substantial share of the growing leather goods market, which is projected to exceed $720 billion by 2030, by providing a sustainable alternative that aligns with the values of modern consumers.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$181.9M

Headquarters

Emeryville, California

Founded

2013

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Growing demand for sustainable fashion boosts interest in eco-friendly materials like Reishi™.
  • The new e-commerce platform broadens MycoWorks' reach to consumers and designers.
  • Investment from GM Ventures highlights automotive industry's interest in sustainable materials.

What critics are saying

  • Increased competition from companies like Bolt Threads and Ecovative may impact market share.
  • Reliance on luxury brands could be risky during economic downturns affecting consumer spending.
  • Large-scale production facility expansion poses operational challenges if demand projections aren't met.

What makes MycoWorks unique

  • MycoWorks offers Reishi™, a unique mycelium-based leather alternative for luxury fashion.
  • The company operates the world's first commercial-scale Fine Mycelium™ plant in South Carolina.
  • Reishi™ is integrated into luxury items, showcasing its appeal in high-end markets.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Equity

401(k) Retirement Plan

FSA Accounts

Paid Parental Leave

Paid Holidays

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-1%

1 year growth

-1%

2 year growth

1%
International Leather Maker
Feb 26th, 2025
MycoWorks launches Reishi biomaterial

Spanish biomaterials company MycoWorks has launched its Reishi material, using Rei-Tanning technology.

FashionUnited
Feb 25th, 2025
MycoWorks' Reishi material launches commercially

Biomaterials company MycoWorks has launched an e-commerce site for its mycelium-made materials, allowing for them to be immediately purchased online for the first time.

Designboom
Oct 11th, 2024
MycoWorks x paragone launch women-made mycelium leather objects at design miami.paris

Biotechnology company MycoWorks has joined forces with Paris-based design agency Paragone to launch the exclusive Mycelium Muse collection.

AgFunder News
Jul 22nd, 2024
Cadillac Unveils Concept Convertible Ev Featuring Mycelium-Based Décor From Mycoworks

[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent co AgFunder is an investor in MycoWorks.]. General Motors has unveiled a concept car—the ‘SOLLEI’ convertible electric vehicle—featuring MycoWorks’ ‘Fine Mycelium’ bio-based materials in the interior. The luxury convertible includes MycoWorks’ biomaterials in the charging mats on the console, the door map pockets, and custom accessories, says the startup, which secured an undisclosed investment from GM Ventures—General Motors’ venture arm—in August 2022

PR Newswire
May 3rd, 2024
Mycoworks Welcomes Ginevra Boralevi To Leadership Team As Communications Executive

"I see an immense opportunity to grow the future of luxury with Reishi™. Having worked in this industry for twenty years, it's not often that one is able to have a hand in creating a new experience in art and design like the one we are building at MycoWorks," said Ginevra Boralevi on her new position as Director Communications at MycoWorks. "I am excited to bring my experience in the luxury sector to raise the awareness of a new material of excellence: natural, precious, unique —and good for the planet."Crafted from the intricate roots of mycelium, Reishi™ is a revolutionary textile material, unparalleled in its versatility and uniqueness. Reishi™ is not a replacement to leather, but a new material option for art and design to create with. It carries the legacy of nature's craftsmanship, seamlessly intertwining art with sustainability."My goal has always been that of our founders: to make the invisible visible," said Xavier Gallego, MycoWorks' VP of Marketing and Creative Director. "With Ginevra joining the executive team, the world of art and design can re-discover the unique expressions of Reishi™ and uncover new aesthetics with our precious natural mycelium material."Since September of 2022, MycoWorks' Paris office on Rue de la Paix, where Ginevra is based with the company's communications and product teams, is focused on providing dedicated support to their existing luxury partners, and collaborating with European designers, artists, brands and leather experts on projects Made with Reishi™

INACTIVE