Full-Time

Mycology Research Associate

Posted on 1/31/2025

MycoWorks

MycoWorks

201-500 employees

Produces sustainable mycelium-based leather alternative

Industrial & Manufacturing
Consumer Goods

Junior, Mid

Spartanburg, SC, USA

Category
Public Health
Biology Lab & Research
Biology & Biotech
Required Skills
Data Analysis
Excel/Numbers/Sheets

You match the following MycoWorks's candidate preferences

Employers are more likely to interview you if you match these preferences:

Degree
Experience
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 products, such as handbags and hats. The company has recently expanded by opening a large facility in South Carolina, which is the first commercial-scale plant for Fine Mycelium™, allowing them to increase production to meet rising demand. MycoWorks stands out from competitors by focusing specifically on mycelium-based materials, which offer both sustainability and performance. The goal of MycoWorks is to capture a significant share of the growing leather goods market by providing a viable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather.

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$181.9M

Headquarters

Emeryville, California

Founded

2013

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

-1%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Growing demand for sustainable fashion boosts Reishi™'s market potential and adoption.
  • Partnerships with luxury brands like Hermès and Ligne Roset enhance brand visibility and credibility.
  • The new South Carolina facility enables efficient scaling to meet increasing demand.

What critics are saying

  • Competition from companies like Bolt Threads and Ecovative may impact market share.
  • Reliance on luxury markets could limit growth during economic downturns.
  • Operational challenges in large-scale production may affect profitability if not managed well.

What makes MycoWorks unique

  • MycoWorks offers Reishi™, a unique mycelium-based leather alternative, unlike traditional materials.
  • The company operates the world's first commercial-scale Fine Mycelium™ plant in South Carolina.
  • Reishi™ is integrated into luxury items, showcasing its premium market positioning.

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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