Fermentation Scientist Level 1

Company Overview:  

Would you like to be part of a leading-edge company that manufactures sustainable bio-products that positively impact human health and the environment? 

At Mara Renewables Corporation (Mara), we believe there has never been a more critical need to evolve the food system using the power of science and nature to build a more sustainable and healthier world. We plan to develop and continually improve upon our unique, patent-protected technologies to become the leader in health ingredients for human nutrition and related industries - but our overarching vision is to go even further. We aspire to repower nature’s pantry to reimagine nutrition and revitalize wellness. 

Mara has grown significantly in the past two years and expects continued expansion going forward. Our success is no accident. It is driven by a world-class research & development team that innovates & develops patented technologies, as well as our ability to lead scale-up capabilities and provide superior product quality. Our highly collaborative team spans Canada and the UK, with headquarters in Dartmouth, NS. 

The Position: 

The successful candidate will join a fast-paced project that will directly impact large-scale nutritional oils’ production. They will have the opportunity to be involved in setting up and executing lab scale fermentations – including sampling, compiling, and maintaining data. The outcome of these experiments will inform financial models and impact the design of production processes and facilities. 

Job Responsibilities: 

The key responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to: 

• Maintain and control microbial strains 
• Conduct routine microbiology tasks for microbial cultivation in flasks
• Execute fermentations in bench stirred tank bioreactors
• Perform various analytical methods on fermentation samples
• Support the Pilot Plant operations by preparing sterile solutions and conducting microbial monitoring
• Record experimental data and observations, collect and analyze experimental results, organize results into appropriate formats, and present results to the team and other groups within R&D
• Clean and maintain labware and equipment; properly handle biological waste; maintain a safe and tidy work environment
• Expected to work in the evening and weekends on a rotational schedule due to the nature of biological experiments 

  Required Skills & Experience: 

• Post-secondary education in Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Applied Food Science, or a related discipline. 
• Experience with microbiology and analytical laboratory protocols.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Experience conducting scientific experiments, recording results, and data analysis.
• Must be able to think analytically and critically and take the initiative in conducting laboratory tasks.
• Hands-on approach in troubleshooting and problem-solving.
• Demonstrated experience working in a dynamic team environment.
• Ability to prioritize and organize work time flexibly according to the requirements of the tasks.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office including Excel for data processing.
• Comfortable in working with hazardous chemicals, compressed gases and steam, and heavy equipment (30 lbs +). 

Desired skills and experience: 

• Relevant professional experience and/or training in GLP/GMP.
• Practical experience with microbial cultivations/fermentations.
• Experience working with DoE/statistical software would be considered a strong asset. 

What We Offer:   

Mara is proud to offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including but not limited to: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plan.
• Employee & Family Assistance Program.
• RRSP matching program.
• Health Spending Account.
• Physical Wellness Reimbursement plan.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Paid time-off
• Opportunities for job related training and professional development. 

At Mara we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including persons who identify as racially visible, Indigenous, persons with disabilities, women in underrepresented roles and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Mara supports candidates and employees with access and accommodation needs.