Microbiology Technician (Portugal)

Colorifix is a biotechnology company that aims to bring a novel, sustainable and environmentally friendly process to the textile dyeing industry by eliminating the use of hazardous chemicals as well as allowing for large savings in water and energy use. Colorifix has been recognised by winning awards in both synthetic biology and fashion, with full information available on our website.

We promote and adhere to our company values of Trust, Sustainability, Respect, Inclusivity and Social Conscience.

Colorifix is seeking a Microbiology Technician to support the development of sustainable microbial dyes. In this hands-on role, you will manage the generation, validation, and maintenance of microbial cell banks, ensuring the quality of strains used in both lab- and commercial-scale fermentation. As a key member of the Lab-scale Process Development team, you will also contribute to the optimisation of fermentation media and assist in troubleshooting strain performance issues.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Generation and maintenance of cell banks

• Microbial cultivation: Preparation of solid and liquid cultures to use as input material for cell bank generation.

• Banking: Generation, validation and maintenance of frozen master cell banks.

• Lyophilisation: Generation, validation, maintenance and distribution of lyophilised working cell banks to customers.

• Aseptic work: Perform all tasks following strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) under aseptic conditions.

2. Media/strain screening

• Plate work: Perform small-scale media optimisation studies in 24/96-well plates, using spectrophotometric measurements, to assess how different nutrient sources impact strain growth and pigment production.

• Flask work: Conduct shake-flask studies to validate media/strain screening.

• Troubleshooting: When required, assist with 24/96-well plates assays to resolve poor growth and/or pigment production of product strains.

3. Maintenance and Documentation

• Calibration: Assist in the routine preventative maintenance, calibration, and cleaning of lyophilisation and screening equipment.

• Documentation: Maintain meticulous and accurate digital records of all executed batch records, including bank production parameters, validation data and screening studies. A weekly review of cell stocks should be completed.

• Troubleshooting: Identify and troubleshoot routine equipment malfunctions or deviations in the banking processes and escalate complex issues to the senior member of the team.

Qualifications and Skills:

Required -

• Education: Undergraduate degree or equivalent in microbiology, cellular biology or a related science is highly preferred.

• Experience: 1–3 years of hands-on experience in an industrial laboratory setting. Academic experience accepted but candidates with industrial background prioritised.

• Technical skills:

  • Proven ability to work aseptically and experience operating and maintaining microbial strain collections.

  • Good basis of microbiology of model microorganisms.

  • Comfortable working in a microbiology laboratory.

  • Utilisation of a spectrophotometer.

• Soft skills:

  • Meticulous approach to following complex SOPs and maintaining accurate documentation.

  • Pragmatic approach to problem solving.

  • Team player.

  • Sense of urgency and commitment to the mission.

Preferred -

• Familiarity with strain engineering and fermentation.

• Mathematical aptitude for calculating rates, ratios, etc.

• Experience running an HPLC is a significant advantage.

• Willingness and ability to work flexible shifts, including weekends, as fermentation processes often require continuous monitoring.

Title: Microbiology Technician

Reports to: Senior Lab-scale Process Development Scientist

Location: Vila Nova De Famalicao, Portugal

Holidays: 22 + BH + Birthday