Microbiology Technician
Start Date Open
Contract Type Permanent, Full time
Location Fredericton, NB, Canada
Benefits Health & Dental Salary $40,000 (annual)
About Chinova Bioworks
Chinova Bioworks is a Canadian company that addresses the growing consumer demand for healthy, natural, clean-label ingredients. Chinova has developed a natural preservative extracted from mushrooms for various food and beverage products that helps to improve quality, freshness, and shelf-life. The company has raised $10M in investment to date with a team that represents 80% of women in STEM.
About the Role
The Microbiology Technician will be an integral member of the R&D team and will collaborate with the operations team. This role will focus on one primary task: to assist in testing Chinova’s products against various food and beverage spoilage microorganisms. This will require the candidate to use various microbiology laboratory protocols to produce the data required to show optimal performance.
Job Responsibilities
Work with various bacteria, yeast, and mold species.
Prepare, maintain, and perform quality control testing of all laboratory media used for the growth and propagation of microorganisms.
Culture by propagation of viable pathogenic and non-pathogenic stock cultures of bacteria, yeast, and molds.
Maintain viability and quality control of bacterial/yeast/mold cultures used during each test.
Complete microbiology assays and record data.
Prepares and dispenses solutions and chemical materials used for the R&D lab, which may include reagents, chemicals, acids, bases, buffers, and stains.
Inventories, orders, receives, and stocks materials, supplies, and equipment for R&D use. Cleans up after each lab session by washing and, if necessary, sterilizing tools, equipment, and supplies.
Assist in laboratory upkeep; dishes, racking tips, wiping down work surfaces, sterilizing tools and equipment, etc.
Operates scientific equipment such as an autoclave, analytical balance, chromatography, spectrophotometer, pH meter, and microscopes.
Calibrates, maintains, and performs repairs on scientific equipment and supplies.
Collects and processes hazardous waste materials and toxic chemicals resulting from R&D work; collects and properly processes and disposes of biohazard waste.
Reading scientific articles to keep up to date on new techniques and knowledge of food and beverage spoilage microbes and pathogens.
Technical Skills and Knowledge
Sound understanding of GLP (Good Laboratory Practice); working aseptically, accurate pipetting, accurate weighing of reagents, etc.
Maintain the lab and equipment in a safe and organized manner, including the handling of hazardous materials and equipment as required for R&D.
Excellent communication, presentation, and analytical skills to work with the rest of the R&D team, and with Operations and Engineering.
Reading and interpretation skills.
Have current knowledge of microbiology laboratory testing, methods, and procedures.
Personal Skills
Attention to detail
Ability to work effectively in a team
Pride and ownership in one’s work
Self-motivated and driven to meet deadlines and exceed expectations
Strong safety culture
Willingness to learn new skills and take on multiple tasks/roles
Ability to make decisions and execute
Ability to balance time, cost, and quality
Organizational and management skills
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s in Microbiology, Biology, Biochemistry, or in a related field, with experience working in a laboratory, will be preferred.